Abstract
ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to provide information concerning calf performance when dairy calves are fed milk replacers (MR) in which skim milk powder is partly or completely replaced by whey products and wheat protein. A feeding experiment comprised 30 dairy bull calves. During the pre-weaning the calves received three different MRs. The main ingredients of MR1 were skim milk powder (418 g/kg dry matter), whey powder (409) and vegetable oil (163). MR2 included less skim milk powder (300) compared to MR1 including whey powder (283), vegetable oil (190), whey fractions (100), hydrolysed wheat protein (65) and wheat starch (50). MR3 did not include skim milk powder while the main ingredients were whey powder (448), whey fractions (300) vegetable oil (160) and hydrolysed wheat protein (70). Live weight gain of the MR2 calves was 14% higher compared to the MR3 calves during the pre-weaning but there were no differences when compared MR1 calves to other treatments. No treatment differences were observed in gain during post-weaning or average during the experiment. There were no differences in feed conversion among treatments. The results indicated that both skim milk powder and whey-based products were suitable energy sources in MR.
Highlights
Good growth performance of calves is an important aspect of dairy herd management
Live weight gain of the MR2 calves was 14% higher compared to the MR3 calves during the pre-weaning but there were no differences when compared MR1 calves to other treatments
The results indicated that both skim milk powder and whey-based products were suitable energy sources in milk replacers (MR)
Summary
Good growth performance of calves is an important aspect of dairy herd management. Colostrum and subsequently milk provide a complete diet for the neonatal calves during the initial phase of life (Tóthová et al 2016). Whole milk would be the most natural feed for young calves, but due to its high cost, milk replacers (MRs) are commonly used (Huuskonen et al 2011a). The main ingredients in calf MRs in Finland are skim milk powders (non-fat milk powders) and whey products. In addition vegetable oils and wheat protein are used. A typical Finnish MR comprises skim milk powder (around 400–450 g/kg dry matter [DM]), whey powder (400 g/kg DM) and vegetable oils (150– 200 g/kg DM). The more extensive utilization of whey products is of great interest because of their lower costs compared to the skim milk powders
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