Table 1.
Composition of colostrum, transition milk and whole milk of Holstein cows
| Colostrum |
Transition milk (milking postpartum) |
Milk |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parameter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Specific gravity | 1.056 | 1.040 | 1.035 | 1.032 |
| Total solids (%) | 23.9 | 17.9 | 14.1 | 12.9 |
| Fat (%) | 6.7 | 5.4 | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| Total protein (%) | 14.0 | 8.4 | 5.1 | 3.1 |
| Casein (%) | 4.8 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 2.5 |
| Albumin (%) | 6.0 | 4.2 | 2.4 | 0.5 |
| Immunoglobulins (%) | 6.0 | 4.2 | 2.4 | 0.09 |
| IgG (g/100 mL) | 3.2 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.06 |
| Lactose (%) | 2.7 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 5.0 |
| IGF-I (μg/L) | 341 | 242 | 144 | 15 |
| Insulin (μg/L) | 65.9 | 34.8 | 15.8 | 1.1 |
| Ash (%) | 1.11 | 0.95 | 0.87 | 0.74 |
| Calcium (%) | 0.26 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.13 |
| Magnesium (%) | 0.04 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Zinc (mg/100 mL) | 1.22 | — | 0.62 | 0.3 |
| Manganese (mg/100 mL) | 0.02 | — | 0.01 | 0.004 |
| Iron (mg/100 g) | 0.20 | — | — | 0.05 |
| Cobalt (μg/100 g) | 0.5 | — | — | 0.10 |
| Vitamin A (μg/100 mL) | 295 | 190 | 113 | 34 |
| Vitamin E (μg/g fat) | 84 | 76 | 56 | 15 |
| Riboflavin (μg/mL) | 4.83 | 2.71 | 1.85 | 1.47 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg/100 mL) | 4.9 | — | 2.5 | 0.6 |
| Folic acid (μg/100 mL) | 0.8 | — | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Choline (mg/mL) | 0.7 | 0.34 | 0.23 | 0.13 |
Data from Hammon HM, Zanker IA, Blum JW. Delayed colostrum feeding affects IGF-1 and insulin plasma concentrations in neonatal calves. J Dairy Sci 2000;83:85–92; and Foley JA, Otterby DE. Availability, storage, treatment, composition, and feeding value of surplus colostrum: a review. J Dairy Sci 1978;61:1033–60.