Life’s perfect first food,
colostrum is the pre-milk fluid produced by all female mammals prior to
giving birth.
Naturally rich in immune and growth factors, colostrum helps insure the
health of the newborn. We know newborns fare better when able to obtain
colostrum through breastfeeding. Animals of all ages can benefit from
taking colostrum because it has applications for every stage of life and
it’s never too late to start receiving the benefits of life’s first food.
Research has proven that the active ingredients present in bovine
colostrum can aid immune defenses and support growth and repair in all
mammals.
Colostrum and its components have been used for many years to treat a
variety of diseases and health concerns. Historically, bovine colostrum
has played a significant role in natural healing. In India, Ayurvedic
physicians have prescribed it for thousands of years and still do to this
day. In Western medicine, bovine colostrum was used extensively for immune
purposes prior to the invention of antibiotics and sulfa drugs.
WHY SHOULD I USE
BOVINE COLOSTRUM FOR MY PET?
Many of the biologically active
molecules of the immune and growth factors in cow's colostrum are not
species specific and can work in humans and lower mammals. Besides, who is
going to collect colostrum from a cat or a dog?!?
Why would an adult need colostrum?
Research has shown that,
as pets age, their bodies gradually produce less of the immune and
growth factors that help their bodies fight off disease, promote
energy and vitality, and heal damaged body tissue. With the loss
of these vital components, they age and die. Colostrum contains a
variety of naturally occurring substances that have demonstrated
the ability to kill bacteria and viral invaders, stimulate tissue
repair (particularly the bowel lining), stimulate fat utilization
for fuel and optimize cellular reproduction. Colostrum is the only
natural source on the planet that can provide this marvelous
combination of molecules.
WHY CAN'T I JUST GET RAW COLOSTRUM FROM
THE LOCAL DAIRY FARMER?
You can...it needs to be
refrigerated and consumed within a reasonable period of time. And,
unless each collection is tested, as is the case with PETerna,
there is no way of guaranteeing the levels of the important
factors in the colostrum.
HOW SAFE IS COLOSTRUM?
Colostrum is a food and
can be consumed by most pets without any side effects. Colostrum
has no known drug interactions. Colostrum is not recommended for
pets that are lactose (milk sugar) intolerant. There is no known
toxicity level with colostrum.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE COLOSTRUM FROM THE
CALVES. DO THEY GET ENOUGH?
The first milking must be
reserved for the calf! Unlike humans, calves receive all of their immune
factors from their mother’s colostrum and without this vital fluid most
calves will die. However, the cow will produce approximately 20 litres of
colostrum, while the calf can only ingest approximately 2 – 4 litres. The
rest is often discarded.
What are the molecules that are in colostrum that
can benefit pets?
Metabolic Factors -
Colostrum contains high levels of numerous growth and cell differentiating
factors such as insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and epidermal growth
factor (EGF). Many studies have shown that these factors are capable of
accelerating healing, balancing blood glucose levels, reducing insulin
need, and increasing muscle and bone growth while metabolizing fat.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor
(IGF-1) has been shown to be an important pathway by which growth hormone
exerts its metabolic and growth promoting effects. IGF-1 may be beneficial
in combating the metabolic effects of aging. This growth factor promotes
cellular mitogenesis and differentiation, enhances cellular glucose
uptake, and stimulates the synthesis of proteins.
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)
promotes epithelial cell growth and differentiation
Immunological and
Antimicrobial Factors - Immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and lysosymes
are the best understood beneficial agents present in colostrum. These and
other antimicrobial agents present in colostrum work in concert to enhance
defenses against microbial attacks of the gastrointestinal tract, thus
helping to combat infections.
Nutritional Factors -
Colostrum is designed to be a perfect source of nutrition and energy for
the newborn, and consequently it contains three times as many minerals and
five times as much protein as whole milk. Colostrum is also higher in
energy and in important vitamins (such as vitamins A, B12, riboflavin,
folic acid, and choline) than milk. In addition, colostrum is a major
source of high levels of vitamin E and selenium, which are known to confer
beneficial anti-oxidant effects.
Other
Important Factors
Alpha-lactalbumin acts as a co-enzyme in the synthesis of l actose and
increases the activity of the immune system.
Trypsin inhibitor aids
in digestion.
Why choose
PETerna
brand?
Scientists at The Saskatoon
Colostrum Company (SCC) have developed methods of accurately measuring
some of the key immunological, metabolic and nutritional components found
in colostrum. Using these tests, they select and grade colostrum collected
from dairy farms based on the level of key ingredients. In combination
with a proprietary processing method that preserves the levels of key
components, the Company produces spray dried “defined” colostrum products
that contain specified levels of important ingredients. The Company
considers its processing method for heat treating colostrum to be a trade
secret. In 2002 SCC filed the first of what it expects will be a series of
patents on making and using defined colostrum products.
PETerna contains only “defined” colostrum.
PETerna is a registered trademark of the Laboratory for Advanced
Colostrum Technologies LLC
