What milking does your colostrum come from?

In comparing the composition of a major brand (first two milkings) to colostrum products certified by Anovite, Dr. Alfred Fox has
found Anovite to be substantially superior. And according to Dr. Fox, the difference comes largely down to the fact that the critical
factor in bovine colostrum is insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which is highest at the first milking (6-8 hours after birth).
“Numerous studies have now shown that colostrum formation in the cow begins weeks prior to birth, accelerates as parturition
nears and ceases upon the birth of the calf. At the time of birth, almost all of the biologically active components present in the
udder were transferred from the circulation of the mother, while most substances found in later fluids are produced by cells within
the udder itself. These factors, combined with the time of collection after birth, play a major role in establishing the quality of bovine
colostrum,” Dr. Fox explains. Anovite certified colostrum products come from the first milking only. Other colostrums derived from
pasture-fed cows in New Zealand rely on the first two milkings, which makes a significant difference in the potency and content of
the colostrum. To illustrate the difference in IGF-1 content between Anovite certified colostrum and first two milking colostrum in another major
brand, see the graph below.