How long can you freeze colostrum?

[shortyjock89]

We had a cow have twins a couple days ago (both heifers, only one was born live).  She lost her calf last year, and her udder isn't in the BEST shape (She's an older gal too), and the calf could only nurse off of one side.  Today, we got the cow in the chute, and put a cannula in the only teat we couldn't get milk out of, and we put the milk in a bottle, and then put it in a Zip-Loc freezer bag. How long will it stay good?  I just like to have it in case we have to bottle feed a calf for its first meal, but that doesnt happen very often here at all.

 

[apple pifarm]

It is good for 12 months then disguard.  Sorry about the other calf.

 

[shortyjock89]

It is good for 12 months then disguard.  Sorry about the other calf.

That's what I did with the last stuff, I just couldnt remember how long I COULD keep it.  Thanks  O0

 

[cowman]

Not true...if you freeze it you can keep it for years if well stored and sealed.

 

[randiliana]

I've always read that it will last for a year.

If you are just milking her out after a couple days, you are not going to get many antibodies in that colostrum. The quality of colostrum declines rapidly in the first 12-14 hours.

Here is a really good article about the stuff.

http://www.calfnotes.com/pdffiles/CNCE0108.pdf

 

[yousesteers]

I have been told it will keep til you thaw it out we have found bags in the back of the freezer that has been there 2 years or so and used it and calves got along fine Our vet gets it at a local dairy and they freeze it if you want to keep some on hand might check wiht a dairy

 

[Jeferin]

My belief with colostrum is the antibodies. A cow produces antibodies to defend disease in their environment. If you import colostrum from another farm the antibodies are not the same to defend your environment. The older the cow the better the colostrum.

I used to work on a dairy farm and they always froze colostrum from there older established cows. When they ever bought a springing cow and that calf was born they did not feed it the colostrum from the mother they gave it frozen colostrum from the established cow on the farm.