IMPACT COLOSTRUM REPLACER

ABOUT IMPACT

Impact is a food supplement made from bovine 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 adjunct to milk replacers.

About Colostrum

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 micro-organisms. The three main classes of immunoglobulins are Immunoglobulin A (IgA), Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM). A few mammals such as rabbits, mice and humans are born with maternal transplacental IgG but not IgA or IgM.  However most species are born 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 and lysozyme that have antibacterial activity.  These proteins act to inhibit the colonisation of the intestine by pathogenic micro-organisms 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.

Lysozyme is bactericidal to many bacteria. Lysozyme hydrolyses the muramic acid in the cell wall thus causing the cell to lyse.  Lysozyme also acts in concert with IgA, lactoperoxidase and ascorbate to lyse bacteria.

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.

Available in 25g, 50g, 250g, and 500g polylined resealable jars

Feeding Chart for Impact

One Level spoon = 1.25g

DIRECTIONS FOR EUTHERIANS

Weigh the animal and select the appropriate weight range from the chart. Mix the amounts of Impact powder and warm pre-boiled water to make the daily Impact requirement. Refrigerate prepared Impact for one day only or store frozen in ice cube trays for up to 1 month.

Do not mix or feed Impact with milk.

Newborn that have received some milk but no maternal colostrum.

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.