Colostrum is the pre-milk produced by mammals after giving birth. Bovine colostrum is specifically from bovines, including cows. This early life nutrition is very yellow in color, colostrum is also known as “liquid gold” due to high beta-carotene content. Colostrum is thicker than regular milk and packed with vitamins, minerals, and bioactive nutrients that help develop a healthy immune system and gastrointestinal tract (the gut).

Like human babies, calves are not born with a fully developed immune system, so it’s vital that they get the colostrum they need to survive and thrive. Growth factors, immunoglobulins, bioactive proteins (such as proline-rich polypeptides), bovine milk oligosaccharides, antibodies, and more, are found to be especially rich in bovine colostrum.

Colostrum is the milk produced within the first 24-72 hours after mammalian birth. It provides all of the essential nutrients and antibodies newborn mammals need in order to develop a healthy immune system and gut. It is very thick and yellow, hence its nickname “liquid gold.”

Then, transitional milk takes over, which is the transition between colostrum and what we know as the “whole milk” that cows produce. This is still slightly yellowish in color, but starts to become more white.

Finally, the mature bovine milk supply is established. Cow’s milk is high-volume, white in color, and provides all the nutrients we know and love such as vitamin d, calcium, and protein.

One of the main differences is that bovine colostrum actually contains less lactose than human colostrum. Did you know that human colostrum actually contains the highest amount of lactose for any species?!

When it comes to immunoglobulins, human colostrum consists primarily immunoglobulin A (IgA). Bovine colostrum contains a multitude of immunoglobulins including IgA, IgG, IgE, IgD and many more.

Bovine colostrum also contains 40 times more antibodies than human colostrum!

Gut issues are often found as the root cause for many health frustrations including bloating, skin issues, disrupted sleep cycles, sugar cravings, slowing metabolism and more. Colostrum is a gut superfood that helps address these problems and bring the body back into balance by providing a protective barrier throughout the body that strengthens the immune system and optimizes gut health.

Not only is colostrum beneficial for enhancing internal wellness, it has also been found to have impressive regenerative effects due to the high amount of growth factors present. Growth factors are known to promote the growth of new cells while repairing and regenerating others. That means improved skin radiance and elasticity — keeping you feeling AND looking young!

Absolutely! Whether or not your kids consumed breast milk as infants, colostrum can work wonders for their immune system and overall wellness. However, it is recommended for children 1 year and older; consult your health care provider if your child is younger than 12 months old. Also, children with severe lactose intolerance or dairy allergies should not take a colostrum supplement.

We source only from US dairy farms who also have a “calf-first promise. ”That means the calves get every drop of colostrum they need before any of it is collected for supplementation purposes.

Yes. Colostrum powder is a dairy product so we don’t recommend anyone with milk allergies or severe lactose intolerance to use WonderCow Colostrum Powder. However, the total serving size of WonderCow colostrum is just 1-2 grams, and the amount of lactose in each serving is 11% or less. Many people, even those who are sensitive to lactose, find that they do well with colostrum powder (especially when paired with a lactose enzyme supplement).