❤️ Colostrum

Colostrum is the first milk a mother makes in the first days after giving birth. It is thick and yellowish. There is not much of it, but it is very rich in antibodies, the proteins that protect against infections. It also has a lot of lactoferrin, special white blood cells and other protective substances.

For calves, colostrum is vital. They do not get antibodies from their mother through the placenta. All their protection comes with the first milk. A calf absorbs antibodies best in the first hours after birth. So farms make sure a calf gets colostrum as soon as possible. Calves without colostrum almost always die of infections. Vets check colostrum quality and sometimes keep a frozen supply.

In humans, a baby gets some antibodies from the mother before birth. But colostrum adds protection and helps the gut start working. The WHO advises starting breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. Cow colostrum is made into powders and supplements, for example for athletes. But according to reviews, there is no proven medical use of such supplements for people yet.