[Changes in the composition of the colostrum from cows and buffaloes and its significance in the nutrition of newborn calves].

Investigations on the chemical composition of cow and buffalo cow colostrum were carried out with a view of using the latter most rationally as the only nutrition for newborns in the first days of their life. It was established that following calving the chemical composition of cow and buffalo cow colsotrum changes very fast within hours and days. The dry matter of cow colostrum is reduced from 29.05% at the time of calving to 12.26% on the 7th day; organic matter--from 28.01% to 12.50%, respectively; protein--from 15.09% to 6.06%; fats--from 10.0% to 4.3%, etc. In buffalo cows dry matter is reduced from 27.61% 2 h post calving to 16.85% on the 7th day; organic matter--from 26.21% to 15.88%, respectively; protein--from 18.19% to 8.50%; fats--from 10.0% to 7.2%, etc. It is necessary to begin feeding newborn calves and buffalos with colostrum 1--2 h after calving at the latest.