Colostrum???

[B_Whitetails]

I have a question...I am bottle feeding a fawn for a fellow deer farmer and he is not sure how old the fawns is. My questions is wonder if he got any colostrum? If anyone has any info on this please let me know. I appreciate it. Thanks a lot!!

[CameronCrow]

If the fawn is 48 hrs or younger you need to give it colostrum. If there is any question I'd give it the first couple feedings. If the fawn is pooping a soft goldenrod (yellow/brown color) or brown/green then it is old enough not to need it. Fawns with a black tar poop are still digesting colostrum and nutrients received before birth. If there is any doubt I'd give it. Just my opinion but hope it helps. What kind of colostum do you have access to?

[IndependenceRanch]

Our vet says the lining of the stomach can only absorb the colostrum milk for the first 8 hours of life. And that same time frame is what affects the bypass system for the rumen.
After 8 hours colostrum milk won't be absorbed by the lining in the stomach because the cells that carry the antibodies are larger than cells in normal milk. After 8 hours those places that absorb the cells from the milk shrink down and won't let the larger cells be absorbed.
If that explanation made sense to you all.

[Buckskin]

Roger thats about what our vet said except he set the gut closes at about 12 hours. Not much difference there. I still feed colostrum if I have to take any before the 24 hour time frame just in case. Rick

[Lisa]

ever heard of a doe not producing colostrum at all?

[virgil]

How would you no if she was not producing.

[allenb]

Very good Questions Lisa and Virgil. I have wondered this also,after last year. If she dosen't produce colostrum this year ,will she never in future breedings? Hope some one can answer. Allen

[Robbie]

Do you think it is that she doesn't produce any, or that her passive immunities are either weak or absent? Could it be related to the vaccination history of the doe?

[Lisa]

good thought robbie.