Directly after birthing her newborn, colostrum is the first natural food produced by the female mammal. Whether from an animal or human source, colostrum is a highly complex fluid rich in vital substances for sustaining the baby.
Nutrients present in colostrum include carbohydrates, fat, proteins, vitamins and minerals.
Immunoglobulins provide passive immunity to calves after birth, and do the same thing for human beings. Also there are antibodies to ward off all types of diseases, biologically active molecules essential for specific physiological functions, plus growth factors which promote cellular development, repair and growth. In bovine species, most components remain available in the first six hours after birth and free-flowing for up to12 hours following newborn delivery, after which they gradually disappear. If human breast colostrum is not at hand, nutritional science has found the means to draw upon nature's bounty. What separates bovines from other species and what makes bovine colostrum so rich in nutrients is that its biologically active molecules, including immunoglobulins, do not reach the fetus from the placenta, and thus the only means for them to reach the calf is through suckling.