Colostrum is defined as the first milk is secreted by the
mammary gland in the initial 24–96 h of the postpartum
period (Solomons 2002). The production varies depending
on the animal species. This initial secreted milk is a
rich source of nutrients (protein, vitamins, fat, lactose
and minerals), antimicrobial substances and growth
factors. It also contains a high diversity of probiotic bacteria
such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains
(Soccol et al. 2010; De Dea Lindner et al. 2011), which
have been used widely in functional or probiotic foods.
The majority of probiotic bacteria belong to the lactic
acid bacteria (LAB) group. LAB exhibit fermentation
activities and have been used in food preservation for
thousands of years. The species of Lactobacillus genus are