IMPACT COLOSTRUM 250G
Impact is a food supplement made from bovine (cow) colostrum powder and contains whey protein, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Feed Impact to newborn animals or marsupial joeys as a replacement for, or as an addition to milk replacers.
Colostrum is the first milk produced after birth. It is high in protein, much of which is immunoglobulin. Immunoglobulins are a group of proteins with antibody activity that are produced in response to infection by microorganisms. The three main classes of immunoglobulins are IgA, IgG and IgM. A few mammals such as rabbits, mice and humans are born with maternal tranplacental IgG, but not IgA or IgM. However, most species are devoid of immunity and must acquire their initial immunoglobulins from colostrum. For the immunoglobulins in colostrum to function as systemic antibodies, they must first be absorbed from the intestine unaltered. Colostrum contains other proteins such as lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase ans lysozyme that have antibacterial activity. These proteins act to inhibit the colonisation of the intestine by pathogenic microorganisms, and together with low levels of immunoglobulins may remain in the milk throughout lactation. These proteins are usually found in higher concentrations in colostrum and early lactation milk.
Lactoferrin binds iron and facilitates its uptake from the intestine. Due to its iron binding capacity, lactoferrin inhibits a wide range of micro-organisms that require iron for growth. When lactoferrin is hydrolysed by gastric enzymes, it releases a peptide that is highly bactericidal to several species of pathogenic organisms.
Lactoperoxidase is bacteriostatic to a wide range of bacteria in the presence of thiocyanate and hydrogen peroxide generating enzymes. Lactoperoxidase denatures bacterial proteins by halogenation with hydrogen peroxide and halogens.
In eutherians, colostral milk is only produced for a short time after birth. During this time, ingested antibodies are protected from intestinal digestive enzymes by antiproteinases present in the colostrum. Intestinal closure to the absorption of antibodies occurs as the composition of mammary secretion changes from colostrum to normal milk, when the levels of antibody fall rapidly.
In marsupials, there is probably no colostrum as such. Intestinal closure occurs later in pouch life, so antibodies are present in the milk throughout much of lactation.
Directions for newborn eutherian mammals (excludes marsupials):
Weigh the animal and select the appropriate weight range from the chart. Mix the amounts of Impact powder with warm pre-boiled water to make the daily Impact requirement.
Refrigerate the prepared Impact for one day only, or store frozen in ice cube trays for up to 1 month. Do not feed Impact mixed with milk.
Newborns that have not received maternal colostrum or milk:
First 12 hours: Do not feed milk during this time. Prepare a daily dose of Impact as described above and feed 1/4 of the amount every 2 hours.
Next 36 hours: Commence feeding milk every 4 hours. Prepare a daily dose of Impact as described above and feed 1/4 of the amount every 4 hours. Feed Impact 2 hours after the first milk feed so that the remaining Impact feeds are mid way between the next milk feeds.
Newborns that have received some milk but no maternal colostrum.
First 12 hours: Stop feeding milk. Prepare a daily dose of Impact as described above and feed 1/4 of the amount every 2 hours.
Next 36 hours: Recommence feeding milk. Prepare a daily dose of Impact as described above and feed 1/4 of the amount mid way between milk feeds.
Directions for Marsupials:
Marsupials are different in that they do not produce a colostral milk. Impact is added to marsupial milk because intestinal closure occurs later in marsupials, and immunoglobulins are present in milk for much of lactation. Mix & feed Impact with Milk.
For very early lactation to mid lactation (Wombaroo <0.4 to 0.6): Select the appropriate amount of Impact Powder for bodyweight from the chart. Mix the powder into the required daily volume of milk and feed as usual. This procedure may be repeated for up to 5 days.
For late Lactation (Wombaroo >0.7): Select the appropriate amount of Impact for body weight from the chart & add this to the normal daily feed volume of milk. Repeat if required.
Feeding Chart for Impact:
1) Small Animals:
| Body Weight |
Impact (level teaspoons)
1 level spoon - 1.25g |
Warm Water (ml) |
Daily Impact Requirement (ml) |
| Up to 50g |
1/2 |
2 |
2 |
| 50 to 100g |
1 |
3 |
4 |
| 100 to 200g |
2 |
8 |
10 |
| 200 to 300g |
3 |
13 |
16 |
| 300 to 400g |
4 |
16 |
20 |
| 400g to 500g |
5 |
20 |
24 |
| 700 to 800g |
6 |
24 |
30 |
| 800 to 900g |
7 |
30 |
36 |
| 900g to 1kg |
8 |
32 |
40 |
2) Large Animals:
| Body Weight |
Impact Powder (g)
1 level spoon - 1.25g |
Warm Water (ml) |
Daily Impact Requirement (ml) |
| 1kg to 2kg |
15 |
48 |
60 |
| 2kg to 3kg |
20 |
64 |
80 |
| 3kg to 4kg |
25 |
80 |
100 |
| 4kg to 5kg |
30 |
96 |
120 |
| 5kg to 10kg |
60 |
190 |
240 |
| 10kg to 20kg |
100 |
320 |
400 |
| 20kg to 30kg |
130 |
420 |
520 |
| 30kg to 40kg |
160 |
510 |
640 |
| 40kg to 50kg |
200 |
640 |
800 |
|
