Cow colostrum for piglets: Hype or real tool?
Cow colostrum for piglets: Hype or real tool?
SEGES experiment 2025
SEGES Innovation has created waves in the Danish pig industry with new experimental data on the use of cow colostrum for weak piglets .
But does it actually work in the farrowing barn? And more importantly: is it worth it when both product price and working time are taken into account?
Here you will get a sharp, practical summary - and finally a free calculator so you can calculate for yourself whether cow colostrum makes sense in your herd (and how it compares to products like Pig Start ).
🔬 What do the SEGES experiments show?
The trial focused on pigs under 1000 grams and tested the effect of pasteurized colostrum from cows given orally to the weakest pigs.
Two allocation strategies were tested:
- After litter leveling – the piglets were given 10 small portions of cow colostrum during working hours over 2 days .
- Right after birth – the piglets received 6 portions spread over the first day .
The results in brief:
So: cow colostrum lifts the weight a little – but doesn't save more pigs .
🛠️ What does it require in practice?
On paper, cow colostrum sounds like a smart tool. But SEGES is also very clear that effective implementation requires resources, structure and discipline .
🕒 Work effort
💸 Product cost
The price of cow colostrum depends on the supplier, quality and volume. SEGES does not provide any specific product prices in the trial – they focus primarily on effect and labor consumption.
📈 What do you get in return?
To put it bluntly: you invest a lot of money and a lot of time – and get a few more kr. in the value of the pig back.
⚖️ Is it worth it?
The short answer: only in very select, highly controlled set-ups .
According to SEGES, cow colostrum is only a good investment if:
- You have a clear strategy for the smallest pigs (<1 kg).
- Your staff can follow the protocol precisely – every time.
- You assign by weight and time , not “a little bit according to what fits in the routine”.
– SEGES Innovation, 2025 (paraphrased)
In other words: Cow colostrum can be an interesting tool in experimental barns and special routines , but in the ordinary, busy everyday life it is difficult to make the equation fit together.
🧮 Do the math yourself – with our free comparison calculator
At Astart, we have developed a tool that makes it easy to compare Pig Start with alternatives such as cow colostrum – in terms of kroner, ml and effect.
You just enter your own numbers - and the calculator will show you what actually pays off in your herd.
- 💰 Price per treated piglet – Pig Start vs. cow colostrum or other products.
- 📊 Break-even – how many piglets do you need to save / how much weight do you need to gain?
- 📉 Visual comparison – so you can explain the choice to the owner, advisor or staff.
Tip: Make a copy with your own standard numbers and use it as a permanent reference when testing new products or routines.
🚀 Conclusion: Use the hype – but count on it first
Cow colostrum has its place – especially in trials, special programs and closely monitored processes . But in practice it should always be measured against:
- Your staff capacity – do you have the hands for 6–10 manual allocations per piglet?
- Your time in the farrowing barn – is it wasted on dispensers and small doses instead of supervision?
- Your opportunity for standardization and simple routines that everyone can follow.