A. On a commercial scale, necessary to separate newborn calves form their dams as soon as possible. Essentially, no space for calves in milking system/facilities! B. Fresh cows need special nutrition and feeding facilities to maximize their milking ability, thus calves can be housed more efficiently in separate facilities. C. Health and vigor of calves at birth depend on the nutrition of the cow during the last 60 days or so of gestation; Developing about 70% of birth wt of the calf during that time. D. Colostrum: 1) Not only provide antibodies that a newborn calf lacks, but also "laxative" to help starting digestive functions. 2) Under commercial conditions, calves rarely receive colostrum from their own dams, but no apparent difference in the effectiveness among "fresh, frozen/thawed, and fermented" colostrum, so . . .