Correct colostrum feeding is paramount to successful calf rearing and producing cattle that will perform well regarding DLWG. This new test could take the guesswork out of the early stages of a calf’s life by accurately identifying calves who have had insufficient or poor quality colostrum. If this was used on the calf’s birth farm or at calf collection centres it would highlight both positive and negative colostrum feeding which would enhance calf welfare and management and in turn lead to better performance and less medication in that animals life. The test is simple to use and the cost could easily be offset by the improvement in DLWG.