colostrum

American  

[kuh-los-truhm] / kəˈlɒs trəm /

noun

1. a yellowish liquid, especially rich in immune factors, secreted by the mammary gland of female mammals a few days before and after the birth of their young.

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colostrum British  

/ kəˈlɒstrəm /

noun

1. the thin milky secretion from the nipples that precedes and follows true lactation. It consists largely of serum and white blood cells

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• colostral
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of colostrum

First recorded in 1570–80, colostrum is from the Latin word colostrum, colustrum “beestings,” colloquial for “first milk”

Example Sentences

The so-called back-to-cow movement includes products like bovine colostrum, the protein-rich milk cows produce soon after giving birth.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025

That milk, called the colostrum, doesn’t go to consumers.

From Slate • Dec. 4, 2024

Food and Drug Administration adds that it’s unclear whether the H5N1 viruses can be transmitted through consuming raw colostrum from infected cows.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2024

Sick cows have a mild illness, and produce less milk, which is thicker than usual, resembling colostrum, the first milk produced after a calf is born.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 1, 2024

After the calf is a few days old, colostrum changes to what is commonly known as milk.

From Agriculture for Beginners Revised Edition by Burkett, Charles William