STOCK MILK REPLACERS SPECIAL REPORT
To curd or not to curd?
What’s in the bag? Words by: Paul Muir
C
A response to ‘What’s in the bag?’ article, June 2020.
as four days of age. Published data (Urie et al., 2018) from theEXCELLENT United States shows EXCELLENT REAL PURE Contact: Service Service NZ MILK that more than 30% of heifer calves raised Quality Milk Powder in the US are fed only milk replacer, of Brytec Calf Milk Powder Contact Info is produced by a privately SOUTH ISLAND & ownedthan NZ Company, 95% June Promo Rates SOUTHLAND which more does not curd. REAL PURE EXCELLENT REAL PURE South Island trading since 2015 Milk Brytec Calf Milk Powder Service TED CHARLTON NZ NZ MILK $4250 020 406 195 34that in Similarly, market research shows Depots - Tuatapere and Normal rates Invercargill the United Kingdom as many as 44% of CHRISTCHURCH Brytec Calf Milk Powder Contact Info www.brytecmilk.co.nz Brytecby2020 rates $4250 incl GST per tonne - South Island add $200 03 310 0444 is produced a privately SOUTH ISLAND & Depot - North Canterbury owned NZ Company, June Promo Rates only dairy farmers feed replacer to SOUTHLAND milkStockfeeds South Island trading since 2015 TED CHARLTON www.brytecmilk.co.nz $4250 020 406 195 34 heifer calves and more than 60% of this is Depots - Tuatapere and Normal rates Invercargill whey-based. CHRISTCHURCH 03 310 0444 Depot - North Canterbury What is clear is that, Stockfeeds in much the same www.brytecmilk.co.nz way as the book cover only presents a glimpse of the story, the list of ingredients making up the milk replacer is far less important than the digestible nutrient profile of the product and the performance of the product in your feeding system. When choosing a suitable milk replacer (curding or non-curding), look beyond the product label and choose a product which is formulated by a qualified nutritionist, based on a thorough understanding of upto-date scientific research, is manufactured to high quality standards, and which is backed by comprehensive local support. Brytec Calf Milk Powder is produced by a privately owned NZ company, trading since 2015
• • • • •
For use from 4 days old Easy to mix cold or warm, add hot last Produces premium results No Fillers or Vegetable Protein Cost effective & value for money
Milk Powder • Used by commercial calf rearers through to • Quality Order by Phone or Online For useand from 4 daysacross old NZ hobby rearers • • Depots Agents Easy to mix cold warm, add Excellent Back upor Service • Loved by calves, rearers• • and bank managers hot last rates • Competitive No Fillers or for Vegetable • • Free Delivery 10 bagsProtein or more,Calf Pallet of Powder 40, or per tonne Brytec Milk bags) • (50 Used by Commercial Calf Rearers through to Hobby Rearers • Loved by Calves, Rearers and Bank Managers incl GST per tonne Quality Milk Powder Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz Includes | June 2020 delivery • For use from 4 days old • Easy to mix cold or warm, add hot last $3867.57 excl GST per tonne • No Fillers or Vegetable Protein $4450.00 incl GST per tonne Brytec Calf Milk Powder • Used by Commercial Calf Rearers through to Hobby Rearers • Loved by Calves, Rearers and Bank Managers
QUALITY ANIMAL FEED SUPPLEMENTS
Order by phone or online • Order by •Phone or Online • Only Real Cows Milk usedHEAD OFFICE - WAIKATO, BOP Bryson Montgomery • Depots and agents NZ excellent results • Depots and Agents across NZ across • Produces 021 0272 3063 • Excellent• Back up Service • Protein 28-31% Fat 15-17% Excellent back up service • Competitive rates • Competitive rates • Lactose 39-43% RUAWAI Kaipara • Free Delivery for 10 bags orfor 10 bags or • Free delivery Matt Elphick 021 401 67 more, Palletmore, of 40, pallet or per tonne of 40, or per tonne TARANAKI, MANAWATU (50 bags) (50 bags) Neil Crosse 027 458 5853
incl GSTreal per tonne Only cows milk used • Only Real •Cows Milk used Includes delivery •excellent Produces excellent results • Produces results • Protein 28-31% Fat 15-17% • Protein 28-31% Fat 15-17% • Lactose 39-43% • Lactose 39-43% $3867.57 excl GST per tonne $4450.00 incl GST per tonne
EAST COAST Karena Montgomery 027 253 5488
SOUTH ISLAND, SOUTHLAND Ted Charlton 020 4061 9534 2278023
calves. Yet, in their comprehensive 1998 review of this topic, Longenbach and Heinrichs concluded that “The complete function and necessity of abomasal coagulation in calves, beyond colostrum feeding, remains questionable with current feed processing technology”. More recently, Japanese researchers (Miyazaki, 2010) used ultrasound to assess curd formation in young pre-ruminant calves. These authors reported that abomasal curd formation was absent in eight out of 29 calves fed a curding milk replacer. These authors also reported no significant difference in appearance, appetite, vigour or blood parameters of the calves. Taking account of this novel and current research and looking back at some of the research published over the last 100 years with a better understanding of the calf development and the digestion of milk, it is becoming increasingly clear that curd formation plays an important physiological role in the success of passive transfer of immunoglobulins in colostrum in the first 24 hours of life, but not in the digestion of milk proteins post colostrum feeding. And, these research findings are supported by practical experience. Many farmers around the world use wheybased milk replacers as the sole source of nutrition for young calves from as young
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armers looking to maximise the profitability of their dairy farm operation understand the importance of high-quality care and nutrition of the young pre-ruminant. Agricultural scientists and nutritionists understand this too and so researchers around the world have invested substantial resources into quantifying the nutrient requirements of calves and understanding the suitability of different raw materials for inclusion in the diets of these rapidly growing, valuable, young animals. Finding a suitable alternative to whole milk has been an important focus for over 100 years. Yet, the factors identified in the 1940s as critical for the successful replacement of whole milk are still relevant today: use of high quality, highly digestible ingredients, careful selection of fat sources and homogenisation of fat, plus the addition of essential vitamins and minerals. While the importance of these factors has not changed, research has proven that the previously “sacred cow” of milk replacers, namely the importance of curding, is not as important as once thought. Understanding the importance of curd formation in the digestibility of milk replacers has been an area of interest for anyone looking to develop alternative feed sources for young
olostrum and whole milk are always the best feeds to offer young calves. However, if milk feeding is not possible there is a large array of substitute powders available to the rearer. They are not dried milk powders, so using “milk powder” as a name would likely contravene the Fair Trading Act. Instead they are called calf milk replacers (CMRs) and are made up of a range of products blended to meet minimum protein and fat specifications. They can contain a wide range of ingredients, and the lack of clear specifications on the bag means it is almost impossible for rearers to make an informed decision. In calves up to three weeks of age the digestive system is poorly developed and the calf can digest only a limited range of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Curding appears to be necessary to enable full utilisation of complex proteins. When calves are fed whole milk, its casein proteins curd in the abomasum where they break down gradually (over eight hours) and the products of digestion are released slowly into the small intestine where absorption occurs.
Article supplied by AgriVantage.
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