Here's another study. This one shows that a particular colostrum replacer was effective in providing adequate passive transfer. :)
October 15, 2006, Vol. 229, No. 8, Pages 1282-1285
Serum IgG and total protein concentrations in dairy calves fed two colostrum replacement products
Derek M. Foster, DVM; Geof W. Smith, DVM, PhD, DACVIM; Truman R. Sanner, DVM; Gonzalo V. Busso, MV
Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606 (Foster, Smith, Busso); Rocky Creek Veterinary Services, 178 Holstein Ln, Olin, NC 28660 (Sanner)
Supported by Imu-Tek Animal Health and Land O'Lakes Incorporated.
The authors thank Carl DiCasoli and Dr. Howard Bondell for assistance with statistical analyses.
Address correspondence to Dr. Smith.
Objective—To evaluate effects of 2 commercially available colostrum replacement products on serum IgG and total protein concentrations in dairy calves.
Design—Prospective clinical trial.
Animals—84 Holstein bull calves from a single dairy.
Procedures—Calves were randomly assigned to be given 4 quarts of colostrum (group 1; n = 21), 2 packages of a colostrum replacement product (product A; group 2; 21), 1 package of a different colostrum replacement product (product B; group 3; 21), or 2 packages of product B (group 4; 21). Treatments were given within 3 hours after birth, and blood samples were collected 24 hours later and submitted for determination of serum total protein and IgG concentrations.
Results—Group 1 calves had significantly higher serum total protein and IgG concentrations than did calves in the other 3 groups. However, the percentage of calves with adequate passive transfer (ie, serum IgG concentration > 1,000 mg/dL) was not significantly different among groups 1 (90%), 3 (81%), and 4 (95%). In contrast, only 10% of calves in group 2 had adequate passive transfer. It was predicted that calves fed product B that had serum total protein concentrations > 5.2 g/dL would have serum IgG concentrations > 1,000 mg/dL at least 90% of the time.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that product B could be considered as an alternative to colostrum in dairy calves, but product A failed to routinely provide adequate serum IgG concentrations when fed according to label directions.
