Dr. David Lawrence
Head of Nutrition, Agritech
Giving calves the best possible start requires good colostrum management, careful hygiene and a consistent supply of nutritious milk. Whole milk can support excellent calf performance, but a well-formulated milk replacer, fed in sufficient quantities, can achieve comparable growth while offering additional practical advantages.
Milk replacers offer farmers greater control and consistency of feeding, reduced exposure to pathogens, and a formulated supply of vitamins, minerals and selected nutritional additives. They also free up saleable milk for the bulk tank. The additional milk revenue offsets cost of purchasing powder, with the differential determining the net cash-flow impact.
The key is choosing the right product based on ingredient quality, rather than judging it on crude protein or fat percentage alone.
Look beyond the protein percentage
For young calves, both the source and condition of dietary protein matter. Skim milk powder supplies casein alongside whey proteins, while whey ingredients provide valuable, highly digestible dairy protein. The target is as high an inclusion of dairy ingredients as possible, while having a functional product on the farm.
The quality of the powder ingredients is as important as the milk replacer formulation. Nukamel, the manufacturer behind Vitalac, selects low-heat-treated dairy powders and uses active immunoglobulin G, or IgG, as one of several checks on incoming dairy protein ingredients.
IgG is a heat-sensitive protein, meaning it denatures with excessive heat. Measuring how much remains active provides useful information about processing history and the preservation of sensitive proteins, particularly when comparing similar raw materials. Having strict quality benchmarks such as this, allows for a more consistent and high-quality milk replacer to be manufactured. These raw materials are then combined using Nukamel’s “spray cooling” technology, which further manages the impact of heat on the raw materials.
What about fats?
Fat supplies concentrated energy to support calf growth and help maintain body temperature, making its quality an important consideration when choosing a milk replacer. Both the source of fat and how it is processed influence how effectively the calf can digest and use it. Vitalac milk replacers contain an oil blend of complementary fat sources, coconut and palm. Coconut oil contributes medium-chain fatty acids, while palm oil supplies predominantly longer-chain fatty acids. Effective emulsification helps disperse the fat evenly throughout the mixed milk. As with protein, the percentage on the bag is only part of the picture: fat quality, processing and the daily quantity fed all contribute to the calf’s energy supply.
Careful selection and quality control of raw materials help preserve the nutritional value of dairy ingredients, supporting a consistent milk replacer designed to meet the young calf’s needs.
Consistency supports practical calf rearing
Milk replacer allows farmers to follow a planned feeding programme, with measured powder quantities and a repeatable concentration. This makes nutrient delivery easier to manage, provided mixing instructions are followed accurately.
Daily powder intake matters as much as the specification. A higher protein percentage will only deliver its intended contribution when enough powder is supplied. Feeding programmes should therefore account for calf size, growth targets and environmental conditions.
For farmers considering Vitalac milk replacer, the proposition is clear: carefully formulated specifications with attention to raw-material quality, and a consistent feeding programme supported by our technical team.
For more information please contact your local Agritech sales advisor or visit www.agritech.ie