Dairy Manufacturers, Inc.

Articles

"Approaches to Colostrum and Fawns"
Mike Watkins, Ph.D.
Dairy Manufacturers, Inc.

Colostrum is the key to raising healthy fawns. Those that receive sufficient colostrum to establish a good level of immunity do well. Those that don't receive enough colostrum struggle and are not likely to survive. Fortunately, most fawns nurse soon and frequently after birth.

Importance of Colostrum

Colostrum is the first milk produced by does and all other mammalian females. It is especially rich in large, specialized protein molecules called "immunoglobulins" (Ig, also called "antibodies"), which provide newborn fawns with their first immunity. All mammalian newborns are born without any Igs in their system to provide protection against diseases. Their own immune system does not become functional until several weeks after birth.

Timing and Quality

Therefore, the sooner fawns nurse, and the more colostrum they consume, the better their chances are for survival. Fawns must consume colostrum within the first 12 or so hours after birth. Time is critical because the ability of the intestine to absorb these specialized proteins is greatest at birth; however, the absorptive ability of the gut diminishes to 0 by 12 or so hours after birth. The loss in absorption of intact Igs is called "gut closure." Additionally, large amounts of colostrum should be consumed during this time because the efficiency of Ig absorption is about 50% at best and declines rather quickly. At about the time of gut closure, the digestive system also starts producing digestive enzymes, including protein-digesting enzymes. Immunoglobulins consumed after initiation of enzyme production are digested just like any other milk protein fawns consume.

Immunoglobulins are produced by does in response to challenges by vaccination and/or by exposure to disease organisms. Older does are likely to have been exposed to more challenges than young does, so their colostrum will probably have a greater concentration and variety of antibodies. It is said to be of higher quality. Colostrum produced the first day is of highest quality, with quality decreasing daily. Colostrum can be frozen for future use, should one be able to collect enough to freeze. It is best to freeze it in a plastic bag laid flat rather than in a mass in a jar to quicken thawing. Thaw frozen colostrum in tap or warm water, not in hot water or a microwave.

Old Recommendation

The recommendation to feed colostrum for the first three days of life is a holdover from recommendations for dairy farmers rearing calves. Calves are no different from fawns in their ability to absorb Igs or produce digestive enzymes. However, cows (and does) produce colostrum for about three to four days. Dairy farmers cannot put colostral milk in their saleable milk, so the recommendation is to feed it until the milk clears and is saleable. Fawns get colostrum for three days in nature, but getting it early and often in the first 12 hours after birth is absolutely essential in nature and in a rearing program.

Sources of Colostrum

If having some colostrum on hand is of concern, spray dried cow colostrum is commercially available. Also, obtaining fresh or frozen high-quality colostrum of cow, goat, or sheep origin may be an option in some areas. Regardless of source, having it readily available for a fawn either orphaned at birth or rejected by the doe is important. The colostrum you procure should be of high quality; however, having low-quality colostrum is better than not having any colostrum when it is needed. Get as much into the fawn as possible as soon as possible.