Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2025, 70(11):459-466 | DOI: 10.17221/104/2025-CJAS

Colostrum quality in Northern Italy: The role of dry cow nutrition and colostrum feeding managementOriginal Paper

Martina Pavesi ORCID...1, Giulia Gislon ORCID...1, Serena Bonizzi ORCID...1, Stefania Colombini ORCID...1, Nicola Palladini ORCID...1, Maddalena Zucali ORCID...1
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

This study investigated the effects of dry cow feeding on colostrum quality. A survey was conducted, and samples of colostrum and feed ingredients were collected from 25 dairy farms in Northern Italy. Colostrum was analysed for quality in terms of Brix value and gamma globulins, while diets and feed ingredients were analysed for their chemical constituents. The mean colostrum quality (n = 163) was 24.3 ± 4.41% Brix and 54.2 ± 20.8 g/l gamma globulin. The refractometer method effectively assessed colostrum quality, correlating accurately with laboratory gamma globulin measurements (R = 0.729). Factor analysis indicated that key nutrients, such as protein and fat daily intakes in dry cow diets, influenced colostrum immunoglobulin G. Furthermore, supplementation of selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and vitamin E also improved colostrum quality. Colostrum feeding occurred, on average, 5.44 ± 2.63 h post-calving, with a quantity of 2.74 ± 0.71 l per meal, which is below the recommended 10% of the calf body weight. However, the maximum feeding time was 12 h, and the minimum colostrum quantity was 1.25 l, highlighting considerable room for improvement.

Keywords: Brix; calf management; dairy calves; gamma globulins

Received: July 17, 2025; Accepted: November 20, 2025; Prepublished online: November 27, 2025; Published: November 28, 2025  Show citation

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Pavesi M, Gislon G, Bonizzi S, Colombini S, Palladini N, Zucali M. Colostrum quality in Northern Italy: The role of dry cow nutrition and colostrum feeding management. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 2025;70(11):459-466. doi: 10.17221/104/2025-CJAS.
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