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 Questions and Answers
Secure!® is Convenient, Safe and Effective
What is Secure!?
Secure! is a colostrum replacement product containing an immunoglobulin concentrate derived from bovine plasma. It is a true colostrum replacer that provides a minimum of 125 g of immunoglobulins per dose, ensuring successful passive transfer of immunity. It also contains nutrients (fat, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals) required by the newborn calf.
How does Secure! compare to colostrum?
Secure! provides more immunoglobulins, and less total protein than colostrum. Maternal colostrum contains other proteins, such as casein, not present in Secure!. Measurement of total protein concentration in plasma by refractometer is typically used to indicate the amount of immunoglobulin G (IgG) from colostrum absorbed by the calf. A total protein concentration in plasma of 5.5 g/dl is equivalent to an IgG content of 10 g/l. Because of the difference in protein profile between bovine colostrum and plasma, this correlation is not true for calves fed Secure!. Studies show that 4.7 g/dl total protein in plasma of calves fed Secure! equals 10g IgG/l. Thus, when using Secure!, a direct measurement of IgG concentration is more accurate than using total protein in plasma. However, by keeping this difference in mind, a refractometer can still be used with success.
What should I expect when using Secure!?
You can expect 1) a major time savings when it comes to your colostrum management program, and 2) reduced risk and less opportunity for error. Ask yourself how long do you spend dealing with maternal colostrum? Look at all the steps you need to follow to ensure the colostrum you are getting into the calf is high quality:
- Test cow to identify Johne’s disease status
- Clean udder to ensure no fecal contamination at collection
- Milk cow for colostrum one hour after calving
- Test colostrum to ensure quality
- Segregate and discard poor quality colostrum
- Package in sanitary containers and mark good quality colostrum for storage
- Properly label all containers with date and cow ID in order to be able to rotate inventory
- Do not let colostrum sit before storage to avoid bacterial contamination
- If using the freeze/thaw method, thaw frozen colostrum slowly in warm water to maintain effectiveness
- Transfer colostrum from storage container to bottle or esophageal feeder
- Administer colostrum to calf within 12 hours after birth.
By using Secure! you can feed the calf in less time than it takes to milk the cow!
When should I feed Secure!?
Calves should be administered Secure! immediately after birth in the following situations:
- when labor is an issue
- when colostrum intake and/or quality are questionable
- when calves are born from heifers
- when calves are born at night
- when there is concern that diseases are being transmitted to the calf through colostrum
- when the dam tests positive for Johne’s
- for administrations taking a proactive approach for disease control
- for registered herds selling seedstock and marketing “disease free” replacements
Is Secure! a safe product?
Yes! During the manufacturing process, Secure! is heated in a spray-drying process to 400ºF under pressure, killing all pathogenic organisms. It also undergoes third party laboratory testing to ensure it is free of pathogens. In addition, Secure! is electronically pasteurized after packaging.
How do I administer Secure!?
Calves should be given one dose of Secure! as soon as possible after birth, preferably within the first hour. Mix 1 dose (500 gram bag) of Secure! with 2 quarts (2 liters) of warm water (105°F, 40°C). Stir well. Administer to calf via bottle or esophageal feeder. The second feeding can consist of milk replacer or whole milk.
Is Secure! easy to mix?
Yes. Secure! has been processed to ensure complete mixing without clumping. To speed mixing and still ensure complete dispersal use a wire whisk.
Should I mix Secure! with milk or colostrum?
No, it is important that Secure! is not mixed with milk or colostrum to avoid an overload of carbohydrates.
Where can I learn more about Secure!?
Contact Silvia Onetti of Vita Plus at 608-250-4214 |
