Use Of Milk Replacers Research Articles

Effects of early weaning of piglets at 10 days of age on productive performance

This study aimed to evaluate weaning at 10 days of age and use of milk replacer, considering that the control group was conventional weaning at 21 days. Two hundred eighty-eight animals were used, and birth weights at 10, 21, 66, and 163 days of age were evaluated. At the slaughterhouse, measurements were taken of hot carcass weight, backfat and muscle thickness, and percentage of lean meat. There was no statistical difference in weight at birth and at 10 days. From 21 days of age onwards, there was a difference in all measures of animal weight and weight gain, with the averages for control animals being higher when compared with the treatment. Regarding measurements at the slaughterhouse, there was a statistical difference in relation to muscle depth and carcass weight, and animals in the control group showed better results when compared with treatment. We concluded that piglets weaned at 21 days of age have greater growth potential, as maximizing weaning weight is a key point in pig production.

Alterations in the Intestinal Microbiome and Metabolic Profile of British Shorthair Kittens Fed with Milk Replacer.

With the rising popularity of pet cats as companion animals, the survival of newborn kittens is often threatened by factors such as inadequate nursing, maternal behavior and blood incompatibility. These challenges require the use of milk replacers for nurturing. To investigate the effects that feeding kittens with an experimental milk replacer (EMR) have on growth and development, intestinal microbiota, immune response and nutrient metabolism, 12 British shorthair kittens were randomly divided into two groups after nursing for the first week of life. Kittens were fed queen's milk or EMR, whereby kittens fed queen's milk served as the control (CON) group. The findings revealed that the CON group exhibited superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p < 0.01) on day 7. However, the EMR group had better growth performance during the later stage of the experiment (p < 0.05); the immunocompetence and antioxidant capacity of the EMR group were not significantly different from those of the CON group in the middle and late stages of the experiment, and the mean values of all the indexes were slightly better than those of the control group. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene in microbiota demonstrated that EMR increased the colonization of bacterial genera, including Lachnospiraceae, Enterococcus, Rothia and Ligilactobacillus. Compared to the CON group, acetate acid (p < 0.05), propionate acid (p < 0.01) and total SCFAs (p < 0.01) in the EMR group were significantly increased. Moreover, the intake of the EMR resulted in the production of distinct metabolites implicated in the metabolism of lipids and amino acids, among other nutrients, thus invigorating the associated metabolic pathways. These results elucidate the impact of administering a milk replacer on gastrointestinal health and nutrient assimilation in kittens. The study provides insights into the use of milk powder alternatives and sets the stage for future research on the formulation and effectiveness of kitten milk replacers.

Management and housing factors associated with paratuberculosis-positive herds in small structured alpine cattle husbandry.

Paratuberculosis (Johne´s disease) is a world-wide cattle disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), associated with substantial economic losses. Purchase of subclinically infected animals or contact with animals and equipment of infected farms are known risk factors for disease transmission among herds. The aim of the present study was to identify specific management factors in Austria that triggered a MAP-positive herd status and to evaluate known risk factors for the transmission in cattle in small structured alpine agricultural systems. The agriculture in the Austrian province of Tyrol is characterized by smallholder structures, including shared alpine pastures and traditional barn management techniques. The data from an extensive survey with 50 questions in 2013/2014 and the development of the MAP herd status of 5592 cattle farms by taking feces and blood samples were examined and statistically evaluated. MAP herd status was determined by combining the results of boot swab samples, manure samples, pooled and individual feces samples as well as serological antibody testing by ELISA. The statistical analysis (odds ratio; OR) showed that the use of milk replacers for calf feeding (p=0.047, OR=0.472) and the use of straw as bedding material for cows (p=0.032, OR=0.625) were associated with a decreased chance of being a MAP-positive herd. Further, housing cows in deep litter systems (p=0.028, OR=2.232), the presence of slurry channels (p=0.028, OR=1.411) and the use of solid manure in young cattle (p=0.041, OR=1.744) were associated with an increased OR for being MAP-positive. Surprisingly, sharing of lowland pastures (p=0.564, OR=1.080), alpine pastures (p=0.419, OR=1.143) or farm equipment (p=0.733, OR=0.963) and farm size (p=0.425) had no significant influence on the MAP herd status. The identified differences compared with previously published results in respect of MAP spread in cattle might be attributed to the traditional agricultural structures, including small family-based farms and common pasture during summer in alpine regions. Results of this study contribute to the understanding of the spread of MAP in cattle farming in alpine regions.

Outbreak of abomasal bloat in goat kidsdue to Clostridium ventriculi and Clostridium perfringens type A

We described an outbreak of abomasal bloat in goat kids. Increased mortality with a history of abdominal bloating, dullness, and death was reported. Postmortem exanimation revealed dehydration, pale mucosa, ascites, abomasal tympanism and intestinal meteorism and congestion, and emphysematous abomasitis. Cytological evaluation from abomasum revealed gram-positive bacteria with a cuboid shape suggestive of Clostridium ventriculi, gram-positive bacilli suggestive of Clostridium perfringens, and ovoid basophilic yeasts. C. ventriculi and C. perfringens type A were confirmed by anaerobic culture and molecular tests. Histopathological findings revealed emphysematous abomasitis, necrosis of the gastric and intestinal walls, gastroenteritis, and intestinal thromboembolism. The possible associated factor was erroneous use of the milk replacer associated with inadequate kid management. Finally, the prophylactic measures suggested such as hygiene care, proper use of milk replacer, clostridial vaccination plan, and a good colostrum management were able to control the outbreak.

Influence of the Use of Milk Replacers on Carcass Characteristics of Suckling Kids from Eight Spanish Goat Breeds.

Simple SummaryGoats are important species due to their contributions to the development of rural areas. Spain has one of the largest goat populations in Europe; however, literature on goat carcasses is very scarce and, therefore, it is crucial to study the specific productive potential of each breed. Previous studies by our team on other Spanish goat breeds have shown some interactions between breed and rearing systems and, consequently, further analysis is necessary. This paper aims to contribute to the general knowledge on the subject.Since goat milk has a higher value than kid meat in Europe, some farmers rear kids with milk replacers, although some studies have stated that kids raised on natural milk yield higher-quality carcasses. Our previous studies showed some interactions between breed and rearing system on carcass and meat quality. This study evaluated the influence of the use of milk replacers on several carcass characteristics of suckling kids from eight Spanish goat breeds (Florida, Cabra del Guadarrama, Majorera, Palmera, Payoya, Retinta, Tinerfeña, and Verata). A total of 246 kids fed milk replacer (MR) or natural milk (NM) were evaluated. Carcass, head, viscera, and kidney fat weights, as well as several carcass measurements (round perimeter, forelimb width, carcass length, forelimb length, and carcass compactness index), were registered. Forelimbs were dissected to study tissue composition. For all studied variables, interactions were found between rearing system and breed. In general, the MR rearing system increased the head and visceral weights, as well as the length measurements and muscle percentages. Conversely, the NM rearing system increased carcass compactness and resulted in higher fat contents, independent of the deposit. The choice of one or another rearing system should be made according to the needs of the target market.

Effect of large litter size and within-litter differences in piglet weight on the use of milk replacer in litters from hyper-prolific sows under two housing conditions

Due to genetic selection for large litters in pig production, piglets are often supernumerary to the teats on the sow. Providing milk replacer as a second feed source is increasingly being used to rear large litters. This results in increased competition at the udder when all piglets remain at the sow. We hypothesise that larger litter size and being amongst the smaller piglets within-litter (irrespective of absolute weight) is associated with increased likelihood of drinking milk replacer as a supplement to suckling or to compensate for low suckling success. The study design was 2 × 2 factorial with two standardised litter sizes at day 1 (LSD1) of either 14 piglets (LS14) or 17 piglets (LS17) and two housing conditions in either crates (CRATE) or loose housing (LOOSE). If piglets died, they were not replaced. The piglets’ suckling and drinking behaviour along with their growth rate was recorded weekly. The results showed a clear preference for suckling the sow over milk replacer. None of the piglets changed entirely to drink milk replacer. LS17 compared to LS14 was associated with more piglets with low suckling success (P ≤ 0.05) and the risk of having low suckling success was higher for the smaller piglets within-litter (P ≤ 0.05). About half of the piglets with low suckling success were able to compensate and sustain growth by drinking milk replacer (P ≤ 0.05). The largest piglets within-litter were more likely to drink milk replacer as supplement to high suckling success compared to only suckling (P ≤ 0.05). When taking into account the absolute weight of the piglets in the start of the week, piglets drinking milk replacer in addition to suckling had a higher growth rate in the following week compared to piglets who did not supplement suckling with milk replacer (P ≤ 0.05). Thus, the present study could confirm that some of the piglets experiencing a competitive disadvantage at the udder could compensate with milk replacer. However, the milk replacer was mainly used by the larger piglets within-litter and as a supplement to increase growth of piglets who had access to a teat. Several factors may have affected the piglets’ ability to use the milk replacer: high effort to drink from the milk cup due to inadequate design, poorer nutrient quality of milk replacer than of sow milk, and/or suckling the sow satisfies other behavioural and physiological needs than solely nourishment.

Influence of the Use of Milk Replacers and pH on the Texture Profiles of Raw and Cooked Meat of Suckling Kids.

The aim of this work was to study the texture profile of fresh and cooked longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle from suckling kids raised with natural milk or milk replacers. Suckling male kids from eight goat breeds (Florida, FL; Cabra del Guadarrama, GU; Majorera, MA; Palmera, PL; Payoya, PY; Retinta, RE; Tinerfeña, TI; Verata, VE), all of single parturition, were raised with milk replacers (MR) or with natural milk from the dams (NM). The meat pH, Warner-Bratzler shear force, texture profile analysis and chemical composition were determined. Kids were clustered based on their pH by k-means clustering. The effect of the rearing system on the textural profile was strongly modulated by breed. The values of Warner-Bratzler shear force and hardness found in these breeds under both rearing systems were very low. Hence, the toughness of very light suckling kids should not be a determining factor in choosing a breed or rearing system. Nevertheless, the use of milk replacers increased the presence of meat with high pH, which modified the textural parameters, decreasing the shear force but increasing cohesiveness and adhesiveness. Consequently, depending on the commercial strategy of the farm, the election of the breed and rearing system must be considered together.

Effect of Age and Weaning on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation, and Serum Parameters in Lambs Fed Starter with Limited Ewe-Lamb Interaction.

Simple SummaryEarly weaning is a common practice in the modern lamb industry, which shortens the breeding cycle of ewes and improves the flock productivity by increasing the frequency of lambing. Recently, it was suggested that weaning age (21 or 35 days of age) and milk replacer feeding level had limited effect on apparent digestibility of nutrients in lambs. However, artificial rearing may increase the cost due to the use of milk replacer, labor, and feeding facilities. In this study, we compared the difference in growth performance of lambs weaned at 21 days (early weaning) and 49 days (conventional weaning) of age. All lambs were initially reared with ewes and supplemented with starter at 7 days of age. The results showed that diarrhea rate was increased when lambs were weaned at 21 days of age while average daily gain was decreased. Early weaning reduced average daily gain without compromising lambs’ overall immunity. In conclusion, early weaning (21 days of age) may have a negative impact on lambs’ performance based on a short-term study.Sixty neonatal Hu lambs were weaned at either 21 (n = 30) (early weaning, EW) or 49 days (n = 30) of age (control, CON). The starter intake and body weight (BW) of lambs was recorded weekly from birth to 63 days of age. Diarrhea rate of lambs was measured from birth to 35 days. Six randomly selected lambs from each treatment were slaughtered at 26, 35, and 63 days of age, respectively. Ruminal pH, NH3-N, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, as well as serum parameters including immunity, antioxidant status, and inflammatory parameters from randomly selected lambs from each treatment were measured. There was no difference in BW at birth and day 21 between the two groups of lambs (p > 0.05). However, BW of the lambs in the EW group was significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.01) from 28 to 49 days of age. Average daily gain (ADG) of the lambs in the EW group was significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.01) at three weeks after early weaning. Starter intake of the lambs in the EW group was obviously higher than that in the CON group (p < 0.01) from day 28 to 49. In addition, the diarrhea rate was significantly higher than that in the CON group from day 5 to 14 after weaning (p < 0.01). The EW group had heavier carcasses (p < 0.01) and rumen relative to whole stomach weights (p < 0.01). Rumen pH was increased by age (p < 0.01) and was not affected by early weaning (p > 0.05). Early weaning decreased abomasum relative to whole stomach weight (p < 0.01) and increased total VFA concentrations (p < 0.01) at day 26. There was no difference in lambs’ immunity and stress indicators (p > 0.05). The results indicated that lambs weaned at 21 days of age had decreased ADG and higher diarrhea rate, although the overall immunity was not compromised. Long-term study is needed to further validate the feasibility of early weaning strategy in lambs.

Epidemiology of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in preweaned calves on California dairies: The BRD 10K study

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the leading causes of death in dairy heifers. The objective of this prospective cohort study was to characterize the epidemiology of BRD in preweaned dairy calves and to identify management practices associated with decreased risk of BRD. Dairies were chosen for the study based on management practices, location, size, and willingness to participate. A total of 6 dairies, ranging in size from 700 to 3,200 milking cows, in 6 counties across California's Central Valley, were enrolled in the study for at least 1 year. A total of 11,945 calves were born on the study dairies and followed until weaning. Incidence of BRD was estimated using treatment records. Trained study personnel performed comprehensive calf management surveys and estimated BRD prevalence on every dairy at least once every season. A shared frailty model was used to model the associations between management practices and BRD hazard. The final models included data from complete records of 11,470 calves. The overall BRD study period prevalence across the study herds was 22.8%. The mean BRD incidence density rate on all the study dairies was 0.17 BRD cases [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.16-1.74] per calf-month at risk. The shared frailty model identified that feeding only waste or saleable milk (compared with use of milk replacer), feeding over 3.8 L of milk per day to calves under 21 d of age, frequent changing of maternity pen bedding, and administration of modified live or killed BRD vaccines to dams before calving significantly reduced the risk of BRD. Risk factors for BRD included housing calves in wooden hutches with metal roofs, compared with all-wood hutches, twin births, and perception of dust occurring "regularly," as reported by calf managers, compared with a perception of "no dust" in the calf-raising area. All 4 seasons were analyzed, and both summer (hazard ratio = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.32) and spring (hazard ratio = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.44) were associated with a higher risk of BRD compared with winter. The current longitudinal study identified specific housing and feeding practices that could be modified to decrease risk of BRD. In addition, season was observed to have a strong effect on calves' risk of developing BRD on California dairies.

Effect of the rearing system on the color of four muscles of suckling kids.

Most suckling kids are raised on farms for cheese production, and many goat farmers rear kids with milk replacers. The aim of this work was to study the influence of the use of milk replacers on the color of four muscles. A total of 246 suckling kids of eight breeds were slaughtered to achieve carcasses of 5 kg. The color of the biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and longissimus thoracis muscles was measured with a spectrophotometer, and CIELab coordinates were registered. In addition, the pH of longissimus thoracis was measured. The effect of the rearing system (RS) on the color of the studied muscles is strongly modulated by breed. In general terms, there are two groups of kids according to the color of meat. The first group has great lightness and hue angle including Malagueña, Palmera, and Tinerfeña fed natural and artificial milk. The second group with great redness includes Retinta, Payoya, and Verata fed natural and artificial milk together with Florida fed natural milk and Cabra del Guadarrama fed milk replacers. Hence, farms should consider selecting a breed and RS together. Most of the kid meat with high pH comes from kids raised on milk replacers. Because artificial RSs use very early weaning, which might induce a high pH and dark meat, two artificial rearing strategies can be proposed. The first strategy is to choose less sensitive breeds that produce meat with a normal pH. The second strategy is to restrict suckling of natural milk but minimize separation from the mother.

Volatile organic compounds and consumer preference for meat from suckling goat kids raised with natural or replacers milk

Most of European Union goats are slaughtered with carcase weights between 5 kg and 11 kg. Some farmers rear kids with milk replacers to produce cheese with the dams’ milk. The aim of this experiment was to study the volatile compounds (VOCs) of meat of suckling light kids reared with natural milk or milk replacers and to study the influence of consumers’ psychographic characteristics on the sensory preference for meat. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed to identify the VOCs and consumers evaluated the flavour, juiciness and overall acceptability. Thirty-five VOCs were detected and 44.3%, 25.1%, 6.9% and 2.3%, were aldehydes, hydrocarbons, ketones and alcohols, respectively. The influence of the rearing system on VOCs clearly depended on the breed. The use of milk replacers did not affect the percentage of linear aldehydes compared to the use of natural milk. However, the major aldehyde, hexanal (34.8%), was related to the use of natural milk and correlated positively with both the flavour (r = 0.21) and overall acceptability (r = 0.24). On the other hand, hydrocarbons such as hexane were related to MR, and 2-methyl-pentane and 3-methyl pentane were correlated with the acceptability of flavour (r = −0.22 and −0.25, respectively) and with the overall acceptability (r = −0.21 and −0.24). The 2-penthyl furan and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol were correlated with the overall acceptability (r = −0.22 and −0.22, respectively). Therefore, the acceptability of meat from suckling kids fed natural milk was greater for older consumers and people with a moderate consumption of meat.HighlightsGoat farmers remove the kids from their dams at a very young age and rear them with milk replacers, but this practice may alter the flavour of meat.The major aldehyde, hexanal, was related to the use of natural milk and correlated positively with the flavour and overall acceptability.Acceptability of meat from suckling kids fed natural milk was greater for older consumers and people with a moderate consumption of meat.

Consumer visual appraisal and shelf life of leg chops from suckling kids raised with natural milk or milk replacer.

The use of milk replacers to feed suckling kids could affect the shelf life and appearance of the meat. Leg chops were evaluated by consumers and the instrumental color was measured. A machine learning algorithm was used to relate them. The aim of this experiment was to study the shelf life of the meat of kids reared with dam's milk or milk replacers and to ascertain which illuminant and instrumental color variables are used by consumers as criteria to evaluate that visual appraisal. Meat from kids reared with milk replacers was more valuable and had a longer shelf life than meat from kids reared with natural milk. Consumers used the color of the whole surface of the leg chop to assess the appearance of meat. Lightness and hue angle were the prime cues used to evaluate the appearance of meat. Illuminant D65 was more useful for relating the visual appraisal with the instrumental color using a machine learning algorithm. The machine learning algorithms showed that the underlying rules used by consumers to evaluate the appearance of suckling kid meat are not at all linear and can be computationally schematized into a simple algorithm. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Testing of milk replacers for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis by PCR and bacterial culture as a possible source for Johne's disease (paratuberculosis) in calves

Johne's disease (paratuberculosis) is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and can lead to severe economic losses in the affected cattle herds. The transmission of the disease occurs mainly orally, by the ingestion of MAP, which is shed in the feces and milk of infected animals. Calves show a high susceptibility for the infection compared to adult animals. The use of milk replacers can, therefore, contribute to the prevention of the transmission of the disease to calves in MAP-positive herds by preventing the ingestion of the bacterium with milk from infected animals. The objective of this study was to test milk replacers for calves for the presence of MAP by bacteriological culture and PCR. Therefore, commercially available milk replacers for calves were purchased from 15 different companies. All of the products were tested for MAP by solid culture and real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting IS900 and F57. During the present study, MAP could not be detected by qPCR or solid culture in commercially available milk replacers for calf rearing.The results of the present study underpins that the use of milk replacers for calf rearing might contribute to the reduction of MAP intake by calves in JD positive herds. Additional studies, including more products with a higher diversity, are needed to further elucidate the presence or absence of MAP in milk replacers for calves.

Increase in Crude Protein Content of Milk Replacers with Vegetable Protein: Effect on Health and Dairy Calves&amp;#039; Performance

The use of milk replacer instead of whole milk may be an economical alternative to calf-rearing systems. However, together with the volume fed, its composition is critical for high performance, especially regarding the origin of the protein. Two milk replacers with different protein content were evaluated to see the effect on the performance of calves. Thirty-three Holstein calves were distributed in the treatments: (1) High Volume and Low Protein (HV/LP), control group: 8 liters, 19.5% CP; (2) High volume and high protein (HV/HP): 8 liters, 23.7% CP and (3) Low Volume and High Protein (LV/HP): 6 liters, 23.7% CP. Calves were gradually weaned from the seventh week of life. Starter feed intake and fecal score were recorded daily. Weekly, calves were weighed, body measurements taken and blood samples were collected for metabolites analysis. Fecal score was lower (P>0.05) for animals in treatments HV/LP. Animals in treatments HV/HP had greater number of days in diarrhea (P 0.05). Regarding blood metabolites, lactate concentration was higher (P<0.05) in animals fed HV/HP as compared to LV/HP and total protein concentration was lower (P<0.05) for calves fed HV/HP, while the other metabolic parameters did not differ. The use of substitutes with high vegetable protein content negatively affects the performance of calves and may increase mortality rates when low volumes are fed.

USO DE SUCEDÂNEO EM SUBSTITUIÇÃO AO LEITE NO DESEMPENHO DE BEZERROS DA RAÇA HOLANDESA DURANTE A CRIA E RECRIA

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência biológica do sucedâneo em substituição ao leite, na fase de cria e recria de bezerros da raça Holandesa. O trabalho foi realizado na Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos, entre maio de 2011 e abril de 2012. A pesquisa foi realizada com 32 animais, adotando-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e oito repetições: 100% leite; 34% sucedâneo + 66% leite; 66% sucedâneo + 34% leite; e 100% sucedâneo. Os dados foram submetidos à analise de variância e de regressão a 5% de significância. Dentre as medidas morfométricas realizadas, apenas o ganho de perímetro torácico apresentou diferença significativa. A utilização de sucedâneo em substituição ao leite durante a fase de aleitamento apresentou uma resposta linear negativa para os níveis 100%, 66%, 34% sucedâneo, porém durante a fase de recria ocorreu um ganho compensatório dos animais submetidos aos tratamentos 34% e 66% sucedâneo. A utilização de 100% de sucedâneo na alimentação de bezerros holandeses na fase de cria não foi eficiente durante o aleitamento. Durante a fase de recria, a substituição parcial do leite por sucedâneo (66% sucedâneo + 34% leite) mostrou ser a opção mais eficiente, pois apresentou um ganho compensatório favorável.

Effect of supplementary milk feeding on growth and survival of Santa Inês lambs

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of alternative methods of feeding on the performance and mortality rate of suckling lambs. Eighty-four Santa Inês lambs, twins and singles, half male and half female, were used. The animals were divided into three groups: A (control), B (bovine milk) and C (bovine milk plus Multi-mixture). The experiment began when lambs were three weeks old and finished at weaning at 2 months of age. Each animal from group B received 200 mL of bovine milk daily; group C received 200 mL of bovine milk plus 20g of Multi-mixture daily. Weaning Weight (WW) was 10.90, 13.20 and 13.59 kg, respectively for groups A, B and C. Daily Weight Gain (DWG) was 126, 163 and 168 g.day-1 respectively. The mortality rate was higher (p&lt;0.05) in group A than in group B and C. Gender influenced significantly (p&lt;0.05) the DWG and WW. DWG and WW were lower for the animals that died compared to the animals that survived: 7.94 kg against 13.51 kg (WW) and 77 g against 165 g (DWG) respectively. The twins had lower (P&lt;0.05) WW and DWG when compared to the singles. The use of milk-replacers with or without Multi-mixture is effective and it can increase the productivity of the system.

Milk Replacers and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Calves, Japan

Milk Replacers and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Calves, Japan

Case-control study on feed risk factors for BSE cases born after the feed ban in France

In France, after the ban on meat and bone meal (MBM) in cattle feeding in June 1990, cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) have continued to be detected in bovines born after that ban (called BAB cases). A case-control study was therefore carried out to determine the way these cases were contaminated. A multivariate conditional model was built adjusting for the production type of the animals and taking into account the herd size. The results confirmed that feeding cattle with proprietary concentrates was at risk for BSE, with an adjusted odds ratio of 6.8 (2.5; 18.7) for the consumption of less or three different proprietary concentrates and 17.6 (5.7; 54.8) for more than three, when comparing with no consumption of proprietary concentrates, considering feeding of bovines before the age of two. The results suggest that cross-contaminations by MBM in bovine concentrates have occurred after 1990. To a lesser extent, on-farm cross-contaminations, i.e. consumption by cattle of feedstuffs initially dedicated to other animals and which could legally contain MBM, have probably also existed, since the presence on farms of poultry fed purchased feed involved an increased risk of BSE with an odds ratio of 1.8 (1.1; 3.0). The use of milk replacers, which often incorporates animal fats, was also at risk with an odds ratio of 1.8 (1.0; 3.1).

A Study of the Use of Milk Replacers for Dairy Calves in the United States

This study focused on aspects of the National Dairy Heifer Evaluation Project that involved neonatal feeding practices and types of milk replacers utilized on dairy farms. Types of milk replacers and the management practices associated with their feeding were studied. Nearly 60% of US dairy f m s use milk replacers for some or all of the feeding program for neonatal calves. Regional differences existed in the types of liquid feeds and milk replacers fed to calves. Western producers fed less milk replacer, and western and northeast producers fed replacers with less total CP. Many characteristics of management utilized along with these products reflect accepted management and nutrition practices. During the study period from 1991 to 1992, 11.2% of replacers contained casein. A greater proportion of these were found in the West during the first 6 mo of the study, reflecting changes in the milk replacer formulations during that time.

Utilization of goat milk vs. milk replacer for granadina goat kids

Nutritional responses of Granadina goats fed goat milk or milk replacer were studied. Digestibility of nutrients, metabolizable energy, animal growth and performance were analyzed. In a factorial design, two sources of milk (goat milk and milk replacer), were fed at three levels (1.24, 1.86 and 2.48 times the energy required for maintenance) and two animal ages (15 and 30 days). The patterns of abomasal emptying and abomasal flow composition were determined also in goat kids fed goat milk or milk replacer ad libitum. Nutrient digestibilities and metabolizable energy were greater in goats on goat milk than on milk replacer, and in goats 30 days of age than 15 days of age. Animal growth was similar in goats fed goat milk or milk replacer. Performance indicated greater fattening in goats fed goat milk than milk replacer, and in goats 30 days of age than 15 days of age. Protein and fat left the milk-fed abomasum more regularly at a slower rate of emptying than when kids were fed milk replacer. The pattern of abomasal emptying in goat kids was similar to other pre-ruminant animals. In conclusion, experimental animals made suitable use of milk replacer. Greatest differences were observed against goat milk feeding for ash digestibility and fat deposition.