A highly bioactive product from bovine colostrum liquid collected from US Grade-A Dairies. Colostrum proteins combined with vitamins and minerals makes Premier Select Kid Formula ideal for feeding your goat kids as an additional nutritional support. Dairy goat breeders especially need make sure that they have enough colostrum to feed their kids. Goat breeders who practice CAE prevention generally use colosrum from their does that is heat treated to feed the kids. Pasturization of the colostrum will often kill the harmful bacteria, but also much of the bioactive properties each kid needs.

There are circumstances when fresh goat colostrum may not be available, or there may not be enough supply. That is when colostrum supplementation is necessary and choose PS Kid Formula for providing colostrum.

Adequate colostrum intake and proper weight gain are crucial.

Raising Healthy Goat Kids Whether raising one goat or hundreds, nothing is more important to your goat kids' survival than a proper nutritional start, colostrum. Parturition represents exposure to common diseases to which the goat kid has not been exposed to. Without proper kid management and adequate colostrum intake, your goat kids may become highly susceptible to sickness and even death. Weaning: 2.0-2.5 times birth weight Number  of kids at birth: 3-4average Sexual Maturity: 7 months Gestation period: 150 days Healthy Environment Tips: Pen should be free from drafts. Birthing pen should be clean and bedded with straw or other absorbent material. Clean bedding often. Clean Doe's teats before allowing kid to nurse. Make sure adequate amounts of colostrum are fed to young kids in the first 24 hours after birth. Common Diseases In Goats To Look For: Paratuberculosis Coccidian (caused by protozoa) Helminths (eg. tapeworm or liver fluke) C. Perfringens Compylobacter jejuni Salmonella Pasteurella Pneumonia TYPICAL GOAT COLOSTRUM ANALYSIS Colostrum Protein 62 grams/lb (from lacteal secretions) Crude Protein 35% Minimum Crude Fat 10% Minimum Crude Fiber 0.2% Maximum Ash 7% Maximum Moisture 8% Maximum Calcium 0.9% Maximum Calcium 0.7% Minimum Phosphorus 0.65% Minimum Sodium 0.5% Maximum Magnesium 4% Maximum Vitamin A 3700 IU/lb Minimum Vitamin D3 300 IU/lb Minimum Vitamin E 5 IU/lb Minimum We look forward to talking with you about how we can help provide you and your customers with superior bioavailable nutritional products that they'll look for by name.

Colostrum Supplementation
Written by Danielle Westvang

Dairy goat breeders share a common task of making sure that they have enough colostrum to feed their kids.  Goat breeders who practice CAE prevention generally use colosrum from their does that is heat treated to feed the does that is heat treated to feed the kids. There are circumstances when fresh goat colostrum may not be available, or there may not be enough supply.  That is when colostrum supplementation is necessary.

Last spring, one of m Nubian does kid prematurely.  This was her second freshening. Her pregnancy was normal and uneventful until the day she freshened.  One kid was born dead.  The second was so tiny that he fit in my hand.  As I picked up the small goat to examine him, he opened his eyes, let out a very loud blat.  The kid was cold to the touch, and needed colostrum right away.  Since my doe was 14 days early, she didn’t have any colostrum.  Colostrum supplementation was needed if there was any chance of saving the kid.

I typically reserve a bottle or two of colostrum when the does freshen, freezing it in case of an emergency.  Keep in mind that freezing colostrum for prolonged periods of time can decrease the level of antibodies. I feed the warmed goat colostrum to the tiny goat using a four-ounce premie pygmy bottle.  Thankfully, he took to the bottle quite easily although only drinking an ounce or two each feeding.  After he had finished the warmed colostrum, I continued feeding him with powdered colostrum supplement that is attributed to saving the kid’s life. 

What Is Colostrum?

Colostrum is the first milk that is secreted by the mammary glands in all mammals.  The thick, rich milk contains antibodies that are necessary for the offspring of the mammal.  Colostrum can only be absorbed into the animal’s body within the first 24 hours of life.  The best absorption rate for colostrums occur within the first few hours of birth.  On average, a goat kid will need to ingest 10% of their birth weight in colostrum, which would mean six to seven ounces would be needed for a six pound kid. 

While fetuses are in utero, they cannot absorb the antibodies from the does even if the doe is vaccinated prior to kidding.  Goats have six layers of placental and uterine tissue separating the dam’s blood from the kid’s blood.  Antibodies or immunoglobulin cannot pass through the thick tissue to transfer the antibodies before kidding.  This means that kids are born without any antibodies or immunoglobulin.  The only antibodies that the kid will receive will come from the colostrum.  This is what makes colostrum so vital to the overall health of the kids. Ideally, good quality colostrum should contain at least 50 miligrams or higher Immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG, and IgM).  This would provide approximately 26 grams f IG per 16 oz. of colostrum.  Lesser quality colostrums will fall below the 50 milligram level.  Even though lesser quality colostrum may provide the minimum amount of antibodies, supplementation should be considered. 

The sooner the kid nurses or is bottle fed colostrum, the stronger and healthier it will be.  Kids that do not receive colostrum will have weak immune systems, which can leave them susceptible to diseases.  Some experts will say that a small amount of colostrum is better that none at all. There are several different brands of colostrum supplement on the market.  It is important to understand the difference between colostrums labeled as replacements versus being labeled as a supplement.  Many colostrum supplements are labeled as replacers, but they do not contain antibodies. 

Colostrum supplements are formulated to be given in conjunction with colostrum or lesser quality colostrum.  Colostrum replacers include antibodies, and are designed to be used independently or with other milk replacers. Bovine colostrum is generally used as a replacement or supplement for most species because it is more readily available.  Currently there are several companies marketing bovine colostrum supplements, but they are not created to be species specific.  These products are more generic in nature for use with a wide range of animals. 

La Belle, Inc. located in California is a front-runner in the development of species-specific colostrum supplements.  La Belle’s Premier Select colostrum is a bovine-based supplement that is formulated to include not only IgG Immunoglobulin, but also IgA, IgM, and IgF.  The Premier Select includes colostrum supplements for goats, lambs, sheep, horses, cows, alpaca, and dogs.  The benefit of using colostrum that is species specific in comparison to generic or bovine supplement is the amount of immunoglobulin is formulated at correct levels. 

La Belle, Inc. maintains the highest standards in developing quality colostrum products as well as following a strict protocol when collecting colostrum from cows to ensure the highest rate of immunoglobulin.  Large as well as small hobby farms producing meat and dairy goats are currently using the Kid Formula. 

The recommended measurement of La Belle’s Premier Select Kid Formula is two scoops mixed with four ounces of clean warm water.  On days two through seven, one scoop of Kid Formula can be mixed with warm water or as a supplement to milk or other milk supplements.  The Kid Formula may be used as long as additional nutritional support is needed.

La Belle, Inc. recommends that whenever possible, goats should nurse or be bottle fed colostrum from the dam, supplementing with Premier Select Kid Formula when there is a question of quality, amount, or volume of colostrum. The Kid Formula is priced at $19.95 retail for 560 grams or five kid supply.  The price is equivalent to a bag of milk replacer. Even though there are nutritional benefits to using bovine colostrum, there are still species-specific requirements.  La Belle, Inc. is the first company to utilize their expertise in the human nutrition business to create the first colostrum supplement specifically formulated for kids.

Goat breeders now have an affordable option available to them when faced with a shortage of colostrum.  To learn more about this product, call 1-888-599-6605.