Maola’s local dairy farmers provide comfortable, safe and hygienic conditions for both mother and calf during the birthing process and beyond. Because our local dairy farmers care about the health of their calves, they are placed into separate living quarters shortly after birth to control their environment and protect their health. Since newborn calves need time to build up their immune systems it is safer to separate them from older cows—and the possible germs those animals could pass along. Shortly after birth, farmers make sure that newborn calves receive two quarts of colostrum—the mother’s first milk after giving birth. Colostrum is high in fat and protein and most importantly, it contains antibodies that help strengthen the calf’s immune system. When calves are left to nurse their mothers, they usually don’t receive enough colostrum on their own. That’s why dairy farmers often step in and feed them colostrum from a bottle.