Colostrum is a supplement that has gained some well deserved traction over the last few years. It is a whole food supplement rooted in ancient biological tradition that has kept humans healthy for a very long time. It provides a major dose of vitamins and minerals, bolsters up the immune system, heals the gut microbiome and so much more. I will get into the nitty gritty of Colostrum’s health benefits and why you should be taking it below. But, it can be confusing to choose which colostrum you should be taking.
I have both data and personal experience to share so you don’t have to waste your money trying them all for yourself. I have compared two of the top selling colostrum’s in a blog article HERE. Today, I wanted to compare Cowboy Colostrum vs Wondercow Colostrum. Let’s see how they stack up against each other and which I’ve decided to use for myself.
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* Information in this post is not professional medical advice and should not be relied on or used in place of consultation with healthcare professionals. Should you have any medical questions, please consult your primary healthcare provider. **
Health Benefits of Colostrum
If you haven’t heard of it before, Colostrum is the first milk produced by Mothers after birth. It is a powerhouse of nutrients and known as one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. Many have caught onto it’s laundry list of health benefits and are adding it to their daily regimen to keep as healthy as possible. Here are some health benefits associated with supplementing bovine colostrum.
5 Top Health Benefits of Bovine Colostrum Supplements
- Colostrum boosts the immune system. This is one of the most well researched benefits of colostrum. It contains immunoglobulins, lactoferrin and cytokines which are all part of the immune system’s defenses against germs. Consuming bovine colostrum can help prevent illness and shorten the length of symptoms once you catch an illness.
- Colostrum repairs and improves gut health. Colostrum helps to rebuild a healthy gut lining. When our gut lining is impaired, we leak contents from inside into parts of the body where it shouldn’t be. This can cause an array of side effects and inflammation within the body. Because colostrum contains growth factors and peptides, it helps repairs any disruption of the gut lining while balancing a healthy microbiome.
- Boost Athletic Performance and Recovery. Colostrum can help improve speed, endurance and even muscle growth. It helps to reduce the chances of intestinal permeability which can be brought on by intense exercise. This is due to the presence of insulin like IGF-1 (growth factor).
- Slows down aging patterns. Colostrum contains growth factors and antioxidants which helps decelerate signs of aging. Growth factors found within colostrum can help support new cell growth, maintain skin elasticity, and reduce inflammation. This helps slow down aging from the inside out.
- Improves Nutrient Absorption. When the lining of the gut is healed through the consumption of colostrum, your body will be better able to use the nutrients you consume. This helps your body to use the vitamins and minerals you gain from food rather than waste them.
The image below helps breakdown specific health benefits you may notice when taking colostrum. You can also read this article that covers 10 Health Benefits of Colostrum in more depth.
Cowboy Colostrum vs Wondercow
Due to increased demand of Colostrum Supplements, we are seeing new colostrum companies pop up every so often. I love to try different brands to see how they compare with each other. I have been taking Colostrum for a few years now, with great results, so I am always intrigued when a new company opens up shop. Do they compare to what I’m currently taking? Will it save me money? How does it taste? There are many factors that I consider when I try a new option. Sometimes a new brand wows me and sometimes I decide to stick my tried and true.
When I heard whisperings of a new company, Wondercow, coming onto the colostrum scene, I knew I had to test and compare. I have been a long time consumer of Cowboy Colostrum. They have beat out some of the fiercest brand competition, including one of the most heavily marketed and well known colostrum on the market (you can read about this HERE). But, I decided to try Wondercow anyway, to see if they could keep their reigning crown in my books or if this new up and comer would edge them out with some fierce competition. Here’s a breakdown of my experience comparing Cowboy Colostrum vs Wondercow Colostrum:
Cowboy Colostrum vs Wondercow: Affordability
Colostrum is a limited resource. It comes from cows who have just given birth. Both Wondercow and Cowboy Colostrum ensure that calves are provided with the colostrum they need first. Calf first colostrum commitment is a standard I always ensure when I am sourcing a brand to choose. Calf first standards are important as they serve the animals and ensure their long term health, but this also limits the resource further. It is another reason why colostrum isn’t an inexpensive supplement. Colostrum isn’t produced in abundance, it is often expensive. When I see very inexpensive options on the market, it makes me wonder if it is pure colostrum or if it has been mixed with fillers to bring cost down. That being said, there is still room for brands to inflate prices further and increase their profit margins. This results in a higher cost for the customer.
Cowboy Colostrum vs. Wondercow Price Breakdown
When it comes down to product pricing, you have to look at the overall cost compared to the amount of product received. Many consumers look at the upfront cost and forget to look at how much product they are actually getting.
Cowboy Colostrum offers an unflavored 4.8 oz./136 g. jar for $98.00 while Wondercow offers their unflavored jar containing 4.2 oz./120 g. for $64.99. After doing the math, this works out to $0.72 per gram when purchasing Cowboy and $0.54 per gram when purchasing Wondercow. Cowboy Colostrum has always graciously offered all THV readers an exclusive Cowboy Colostrum discount code of 15% off (discount code: HOLISTICVANITY15). So, I ran the numbers again using this code applied and found that with the discount, Cowboy Colostrum works out to $0.61 per gram. This means there is only a $0.07 difference between the brands per gram of product.
The cost difference between these two brands is not quite as staggering as it may appear initially. That is why it is always important to look at grams provided and do some math to ensure you are getting a non-marketing price breakdown. I have also compared the price between Cowboy Colostrum and ARMRA Colostrum in an article HERE.
Cost Comparison Summer: Cowboy vs. Wondercow
As a summary, the cost difference between the three brands is as follows:
- Wondercow $0.54 per gram of Colostrum
- Cowboy $0.61 per gram of Colostrum (discount code applied)
- ARMRA $0.91 per gram of Colostrum
Overall, Wondercow is the cheapest option. However, I never base my choices solely on cost alone and the cost difference is not staggering which leaves plenty of room to continue comparing other measures between the two brands. I will get into the most important factor when choosing a supplement which is quality. In summation, Cowboy has an edge over other brands for it’s quality sourcing and impeccable ingredient deck. In my opinion, this sets Cowboy Colostrum as a more affordable option without compromising on ingredient and sourcing quality.
Cowboy Colostrum vs Wondercow: Added Ingredients
When it comes to a supplement, it isn’t just about the active ingredient. In this case the active ingredient is Bovine Colostrum. But, it is so important to look at an ingredient deck to check for any added ingredients that may not be ideal. Added ingredients often have a purpose such as sweeteners or flavors that change a taste profile. Makes sense, although it is important to look into the quality of sweeteners and flavors added to a product as some are better than others. Sometimes ingredients like fillers are added to products to cheapen the formula and increase profit margin. Sometimes ingredients are added for a purpose but are not an ideal or healthy option to consumer. This is where many supplements fall short and many consumers get bamboozled. It is so important to check ingredient lists before buying a product so you know exactly what you are getting.
Cowboy Colostrum vs Wondercow Ingredient List
I compared the ingredient decks of the vanilla flavor in both Cowboy Colostrum vs Wondercow Colostrum. Here’s how they stack up:
Cowboy Colostrum (Vanilla) Ingredients: Grass-fed Bovine Colostrum, Organic Natural Vanilla Flavor, Organic Monk Fruit Extract, Sea Salt.
Wondercow Colostrum (Vanilla) Ingredients: Bovine Whole Colostrum, Stevia Leaf Extract, Monk Fruit Extract, Natural Flavor (Vanilla).
Organic vs. Non-Organic Added Ingredients
While looking at these two ingredient decks beside each other, here are some important differences I notice. Both brands use a natural vanilla flavor, however, Cowboy Colostrum uses an organic natural vanilla flavor. This ensures no added pesticides end up in your supplement. Pesticides used to grow these crops are toxic and inflammatory. Pesticides wreak havoc on your health and have been proven to cause short term health effects such as acute poisoning, respiratory issues, nausea, skin and eye irritations and more. They can also cause major health issues with repeated exposure or consumption over time such as cancer, reproductive issues and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
Monk Fruit Extract is a natural sweetener used in supplements to improve taste. It’s a great option and can be found in both products. However, similarly to the flavoring used in each brands formula, Cowboy Colostrum sources organic monk fruit while Wondercow does not. If given the option between organic and non-organic, always opt for the pesticide free organic version.
Quality of Added Sweeteners
In the two ingredient decks, added sweeteners can be found. Sweeteners create a pleasant tasting product, but it’s important to look into which ones are being used. Some added sweeteners can cause major issues, even when sourced naturally. As mentioned above, both brands have added monk fruit extract. Monk fruit extract is one of the best natural sweetener available. It does not cause any health issues or side effects when consumed. In fact, monk fruit extract has been shown to help balance blood sugar levels.
Why you may choose to avoid Stevia when possible
But there is one stark difference I see between these two brands, Wondercow has also added stevia leaf extract to their formula. Stevia leaf was one of the first natural sweeteners that came to the market when the food industry began noticing the health effects of too much sugar consumption. Brands quickly ran to “sugar free” alternatives that were chemically created, like Splenda. These were quickly shown to have poor health outcomes so the search for naturally derived sweeteners became popular. That being said, just because something comes from nature, doesn’t mean it’s good for human consumption. Stevia leaf is naturally derived but over time has been taken out of many brands formulas as it produced unwanted side effects according to consumers. These side effects revolved mostly around digestive upset but some others were noted as well:
Side Effects of Stevia Consumption
- Gastrointestinal issues: Stevia contains sugar alcohols which cause symptoms such as nausea, bloating and diarrhea.
- Low Blood Pressure: Stevia has been shown to lower blood pressure which can be problematic for those with normal or low blood pressure. It can also interact with blood pressure medications.
- Hormonal Disruption: One of the compounds found in Stevia, Steviol Glycosides, can interfere with normal hormone production. This is because steviol glycosides are structurally similar to steroids.
- Liver Effects: Preliminary research has pointed toward Stevia causing elevated liver enzymes.
As a consumer myself, aside from receiving a large dose of vitamins and minerals, one of the main reasons I take Colostrum is to repair my gut health and microbiome. I have always had gut related issues stemming from infections and antibiotic over use as a child. Colostrum has helped me repair my gut lining, reduced long term digestive symptoms and healed gut dysbiosis (SIBO). The last thing I want to do is take something with an added ingredient that will cause the same symptoms I want to heal. For this reason alone, I would choose Cowboy Colostrum over Wondercow.
Cowboy Colostrum vs Wondercow: Sourcing and Quality
Calf First Commitment
Next, I wanted to share an important aspect of colostrum farming that is important to many brands. Calf first commitment means the baby calved receive all of the colostrum they require prior to harvesting the leftover. This is an ethical issue and one that many brands stand strongly on. It is very important to maintain good health of the animals that provide this incredible source of nutrition for us. Calf first commitment ensures that nature takes its course as intended and we are gifted the leftovers.
It’s important to note that cows produce more colostrum than their calves will consume. This means that if not used, it becomes farming waste. If you’re a Mother, you understand how devastating it is to know that this “golden milk” is being tossed away in some circumstances. It is a superfood that should never see the bottom of any waste compartment. So, harvesting excess is actually a responsible practice. So long as the calves get everything they need.
Calf first commitment is something both of these brands have committed to, which is great to see!
First Milking Colostrum
Cowboy Colostrum is strictly a first milking colostrum. This means the colostrum is collected within 4-6 hours following birth after the calves have had their share. First milking colostrum is the most nutritious form. It contains the highest amount of bio-actives and nutrients. As the milking process progresses, the nutrients decline as the Mother gets closer to producing normal milk. Cowboy Colostrum is one of the only brands who offers first milking colostrum. Most colostrum supplements are a mixture of first, second, third and beyond. Many brands also do not collect within the first milking window at all. This means that their product is much less potent. This is why some may notice differences between colostrum brands in terms of the benefits they notice. It is very important to pick a brand that focuses on high nutrients and highest quality colostrum.
Wondercow states that they collect within 24 hours. This means that it is likely not exclusively first milking colostrum. Therefor, the overall quality of the colostrum sourced is not quite as nutrient dense as the colostrum in Cowboy’s Colostrum.
Grass Fed Colostrum vs. Grain Fed Colostrum
Cows that are grass fed provide a much high quality colostrum and are healthier overall. The alternative is grain fed cows which does not provide adequate nutrition to the cows. This artificial diet has a major effect on the nutritional composition of beef, milk or colostrum and lowers their quality considerably. Grass fed and Grain fed cows offer completely different standards in terms of product they produce. Their fatty acid compounds, natural source of vitamins and antioxidants are much superior when cows are provided with a grass fed diet. In addition to this, grains fed to cows are almost exclusively genetically modified (GMO) which transfers into the foods you are consuming.
Cowboy sources strictly from a fourth generation dairy farmer who raises grass fed cows. Their colostrum is listed in the ingredient deck as grass fed. Because they source directly from one farmer rather than multiple farms, they have a great handle on these standards.
According to the Wondercow website and ingredient deck, their product is not sourced from grass fed cows. I did find that they source their colostrum from farms across the U.S. but they are not strictly grass fed. For clarification, they state the following from the FAQ section of their website:
“Would we consider our cows to be grass-fed? Yes & no. Yes, because our cows’ ration consists mostly of grass, alfalfa, and silage. No, because grass is not all they eat. Along with grass, our cows eat other foods with nutritious vitamins and minerals to get the nutrients they need to produce milk and maintain their health. Our cows are closely monitored by professional nutritionists and veterinarians to ensure they consume a well-balanced diet full of essential nutrients”. – Wondercow Website
In Summary, Cowboy Colostrum is strictly sourced from grass fed cows. Wondercow is not sourced strictly from grass fed cows. However, they state that most of the diets consist of grasses. I was unable to determine much more regarding the ratio of grass vs. other types of feed these cows recieve.
Sourcing & Farmer Relationships
Both Cowboy and Wondercow have stated that their colostrum is sourced from American Dairy farms. Wondercow upholds that their colostrum comes from a number of different US dairy farmers.
Cowboy seems to have a deeper relationship and connection tot he sourcing of their product. They offer a great deal of transparency and a high level of dedication and passion towards every step of their formulation. They took the time to write to me and advise me about their process of searching for the right farmer. After months of searching, they landed on a fourth generation dairy farmer. This farmer also has his own freeze dry facility on site and maintains grass fed grass finished colostrum.
“I can promise you, there is no better quality colostrum product on the market” – Cowboy Owners.
Taste and Consistency
One of the more important factors when choosing a supplement is how it tastes. If you’re going to spend on your health, you want to ensure it is something you actually enjoy taking. I have had many experiences where I purchased a supplement but it ended up at the back of my medicine cabinet due to poor taste and not being very palatable. This is especially true for children. Children tend to be pickier with tastes and consistency. If I am purchasing something that I want my children to take (they definitely take colostrum) then I would much prefer buying something that I don’t have to convince them to take. I am a Mother who has lost the battle over poor tasting supplements one too many times. Thankfully, colostrum is generally very tasty and easy to mix into things.
My personal review of Cowboy’s Taste/Consistency
I decided I would compare and contrast Cowboy colostrum vs Wondercow colostrum for myself. It is no surprise that I LOVE Cowboy’s Colostrum. They do not strip any essential nutrients or fats during the sourcing process which leaves you with a rich and creamy consistency that is incredibly easy to blend into liquids, smoothies, yogurt, and more. I use a frother when I want to blend it with just milk and there is no grittiness or texture leftover. Just a smooth, rich and creamy delicious drink that my kids and I devour immediately. It’s a drink that I look forward to everyday.
My personal review of Wondercow’s Taste/Consistency
I also purchased Wondercow to try and this was my personal opinion. The texture is a bit more gritty and the powder is not easy to blend into liquids. It’s a bit of an odd consistency that doesn’t like to fully dissolve. Perhaps it’s an added ingredient that causes this but there is a difference between the two brands when it comes to this. The flavoring isn’t quite as true as Cowboys. The flavors read a bit more synthetic although are listed as natural flavoring on the label. I also experienced a stomach ache after taking Wondercow, which is likely due to the addition of stevia as a sweetener which tends to cause me digestive upset.
When it comes to taste and consistency, I would side with Cowboy Colostrum. When added to milk, coffee or even homemade hot chocolate for my children, it provides that smooth creamer effect. It is delicious and my children especially love when I make their favorite “vanilla ice cream drink” which is comprised of milk, Cowboy vanilla colostrum, and maple syrup. You can find the full recipe HERE.
My #1 Choice: Why I Choose Cowboy Colostrum
Wondercow may be slightly cheaper in price compared to Cowboy Colostrum, however, the difference is not that staggering. When it comes to comparing quality and sourcing, both brands have set good standards. Cowboy Colostrum provides more insight into the farmer they have chosen to source from and have a freeze dry facility on site which eliminates the possibility of heat and time impacting the colostrum’s quality for those who need to ship to a processing facility.
Cowboy Colostrum guarantees first milking colostrum which has the highest level of nutrients and health benefits. They also source from grass feds cows which also helps deliver a more nutritious colostrum product. Their added flavors and sweeteners are much higher quality and they also ensure these ingredients are organic.
The taste test had me leaning towards Cowboy Colostrum for their rich, creamy texture and delicious flavors. Cowboys colostrum powder is refined and easier to blend into liquids. It leaves behind no grittiness like Wondercow seemed to.
Considering the cost difference is minimal, especially when applying the exclusive THV discount code, I would personally opt for Cowboy Colostrum over Wondercow for the above reasons. Here are some additional standards upheld by Cowboy Colostrum below:
Cowboy Colostrum Testing + Certifications
Cowboy Colostrum has won my vote for a variety of reasons. They also have additional standards that I wanted to highlight as they really are a quality colostrum. Here are some other certifications and standards that Cowboy Colostrum holds:
- They are registered under the FDA for Dietary Supplements which upholds a certain standard of quality and effectiveness
- They are manufactures and processed in a GMP certified facility which ensures their entire process is upheld to a specific level of safety and quality requirements.
- Their colostrum is sourced from Grade A – USA Dairy Farmers
- They carry out both internal and third party testing for purity, quality and contaminants
- They use freeze dry method which avoids heat and retains all nutrients
- Free of Antibiotics
- Free of Pesticides (Organic)
- Free of Flow Agents
- Gluten Free
- Free of Hormones
- No Fillers, preservertaives or artificial sweeteners are added to the products
- No stevia used int he sweetening process, their sweeteners are natural, organic and non-GMO
Cowboy Colostrum Discount Code
Shop Cowboy Colostrum HERE and Use discount code: HOLISTICVANITY15 at checkout to save. This cowboy colostrum discount code can also be applied to already discounted bundles.
I hope this comparison was both educational and a helpful deep dive into the nitty gritty so you are able to choose what product is right for you and your family.
Shop Cowboy Colostrum
* NEW * Cowboy Colostrum Matcha Flavor
* NEW * Strawberry Cowboy Colostrum
Cowboy Colostrum Trio
* NEW * Chocolate Colostrum
Cowboy Starter Kit: Vanilla
Starter Kit: Unflavored
Ranchers Starter Kit
Vanilla Colostrum
Unflavored Colostrum
Rancher’s Bundle
2-Pack Vanilla
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Here’s a few other articles you may enjoy:
- Cowboy Colostrum Vs. ARMRA Colostrum: What’s the Difference
- Colostrum and the Immune System: How it protects you from getting sick
- Colostrum and Weight loss: How does it work?
- 10 Incredible Health Benefits of Bovine Colostrum
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