Choose a colostrum supplement that is 100% colostrum with no fillers, states where the colostrum comes from, lists the colostrum amount per serve in milligrams, and comes from a brand willing to answer questions about testing such as IgG. Then compare price per gram of colostrum, not price per tub, because commercial products can vary up to six-fold in bioactivity.
Key takeaways
- Check whether a product is undiluted colostrum or a blend, and how much colostrum each serve actually contains.
- Read the "other ingredients" list: fillers, flavours and sweeteners dilute the colostrum.
- Origin and processing matter: IgG starts to be affected above about 65°C (Bogahawaththa et al., 2017).
- It's reasonable to ask any brand about IgG testing. Compare products on cost per 1,000 mg of colostrum.
Undiluted colostrum or a blend?
The first question to ask is simple: how much of this product is actually colostrum? Some products are 100% colostrum. Others mix colostrum with protein powders, flavours, sweeteners or other "hero" ingredients.
Blends aren't automatically bad, but they make comparisons harder. If a 10 g scoop contains only 1 g of colostrum, you're paying for 9 g of something else. Look for a clear statement of colostrum content per serve, not just a total serve weight.
MUUU Colostrum Powder is undiluted: 100% bovine colostrum, with other ingredients listed as none. One level teaspoon (2 g) is 2,000 mg of colostrum.
What should be in the "other ingredients" list?
For a powder, ideally nothing. For capsules, you'll usually see the capsule shell and a small amount of a flow agent. Common additions to watch for include:
- Fillers and bulking agents such as maltodextrin, which add weight but not colostrum.
- Flavours and sweeteners, natural or artificial, which change the taste but also dilute the product.
- Anti-caking agents, which may be included to stop clumping.
We think honesty here matters. MUUU Colostrum Powder has no other ingredients. MUUU Colostrum Capsules contain two: a cellulose vege-cap and vegetable-sourced magnesium stearate. You can compare the two formats in colostrum powder vs capsules.
Where does the colostrum come from?
A good label tells you the country of origin of the colostrum, not just where the product was packed or which company sells it. Origin tells you which farming system and regulatory framework the colostrum was produced under.
New Zealand is a common source. Its dairy herds are predominantly pasture-fed, with pasture making up about 81% of their diet in 2017–18 (DairyNZ for MPI, 2019), and colostrum there is regulated under the Animal Products Act 1999 (MPI, 2012). Read more in why New Zealand colostrum?
How much colostrum is in each serve?
Serve sizes vary widely between brands, from a few hundred milligrams in some capsules to several grams in powders. For context, research doses were often 10–20 g a day, with some studies using up to 60 g (Davison, 2021). That's larger than one standard serve of most supplements, including ours.
This doesn't mean you need to match research doses, and you should always follow the label directions. But it's useful to know what you're getting, so you can compare products fairly and talk to a health professional if you're considering larger amounts.
Should brands disclose IgG content?
IgG is the main immunoglobulin in bovine colostrum, making up about 85–90% of the total (Robbers et al., 2021), and it's a common marker of quality. Levels vary a lot at the source: 30–87 g/L in colostrum, with more than 50 g/L considered high quality (Playford and Weiser, 2021). Processing adds more variation. IgG starts to be affected above about 65°C (Bogahawaththa et al., 2017), and some pasteurisation methods have been reported to cut IgG by around 60% (Davison, 2021). Overall, commercial products can vary up to six-fold in bioactivity (Playford and Weiser, 2021).
Given that range, asking brands about IgG testing is completely reasonable. A few questions worth asking:
- Is IgG tested for each batch, and by what method?
- Is the figure for the finished product or the raw colostrum?
- How was the colostrum pasteurised and dried?
In the spirit of practising what we preach: MUUU does not currently publish an IgG percentage on our labels or website. If you'd like batch information, email us at info@maynenterprise.com and we'll help where we can. To understand why IgG matters, read immunoglobulins explained simply.
How do I compare price per serve?
The tub price can be misleading. The fairest comparison is cost per 1,000 mg (1 g) of colostrum. Here's how to work it out:
- Find the total colostrum in the pack: colostrum per serve × number of serves.
- Divide the pack price by that total in grams.
- Compare that figure across products.
| Product | Price | Colostrum per serve | Serves | Cost per serve | Cost per 1,000 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUUU Colostrum Powder 80 g | $39.99 | 2,000 mg | 40 | About $1.00 | About $0.50 |
| MUUU Colostrum Capsules 90 | $39.99 | 1,000 mg | 45 | About $0.89 | About $0.89 |
Prices in Australian dollars at the time of writing. Capsules usually cost more per gram because you're paying for convenience and encapsulation. If you want both, The MUUU Duo is $71.98 and saves 10%.
Your colostrum buying checklist
- 100% colostrum, or a clearly stated colostrum amount in a blend
- Short, transparent "other ingredients" list
- Clear country of origin for the colostrum
- Colostrum per serve stated in milligrams
- A brand that will answer questions about testing and processing
- Label claims that are measured, not miraculous
- Cost per 1,000 mg of colostrum that fits your budget
If a label promises colostrum will cure, treat or prevent a disease, that's a red flag. Start with our Colostrum 101 guide for the basics.
FAQs
Is higher IgG always better?
Higher IgG is a useful marker of quality, but colostrum also contains lactoferrin, growth factors and other bioactives. Look at the whole product: purity, origin, processing and amount per serve.
Is expensive colostrum better?
Not necessarily. Price per tub tells you little. Compare cost per 1,000 mg of colostrum, then weigh up purity, origin and transparency.
How should colostrum be stored?
Follow the label. MUUU products should be stored below 25°C and protected from moisture. Close the lid firmly and use a dry scoop.
References
- Playford RJ, Weiser MJ. Bovine colostrum: its constituents and uses. Nutrients. 2021;13(1):265. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/1/265
- Davison G. The use of bovine colostrum in sport and exercise. Nutrients. 2021;13(6):1789. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/1789
- Robbers L, et al. Front Vet Sci. 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.668639
- Bogahawaththa D, et al. Food Hydrocolloids. 2017;72:350–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2017.06.017
- DairyNZ for the Ministry for Primary Industries. Feed Consumed by NZ Dairy Cows. 2019. https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/46231-Feed-Consumed-by-NZ-Dairy-Cows
- Ministry for Primary Industries. New Zealand Bovine Colostrum Factsheet. 2012. https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/20675-New-Zealand-Bovine-Colostrum-Factsheet
This article is general information, not medical advice. Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
