References
Energized calf milk: is it worth investing in early life nutrition?
Abstract
Research has indicated that daily liveweight gain (DLWG) is a key component of efficient heifer rearing, in terms of reducing age at first calving as well as future production, health and survival. While DLWG is impacted by multiple factors, one of the main factors is milk feeding, with whole milk (WM) having the optimal composition to maximise DLWGs in heifers. Commercial milk replacers (CMR) have been shown to be highly variable in terms of formulation balance, raw material inclusion and nutrient digestibility. Energized calf milk (ECM) has been designed to have a similar osmolality and lower lactose level than whole milk (WM), resulting in a decreased risk of osmotic diarrhoea. ECM has been designed to have a higher fat content than standard CMRs, with increased digestibility and improved solubility of fats as a result of homogenisation and encapsulation of the fats. Higher levels of fat in CMR has been reported to have potential health benefits, increased DLWG and increased future milk yields. One of the downsides of ECM is the higher price per tonne; however combined with the higher feed conversion efficiency of pre-weaned calves, ECM can result in increased DLWG and potentially decreased health issues and therefore the price per kg weight gain can make ECM an economically viable option, before considering the potential longer-term benefits.
The overall aim of heifer rearing is to produce healthy calves that grow at the desired growth rates in order to calve for the first time at 22–24 months of age. Daily liveweight gain (DLWG) has been highlighted to be a critical component of an efficient heifer rearing system (Chester-Jones et al, 2017). The desire for increased DLWGs during the pre-weaning period has resulted in the aim of feeding elevated planes of milk nutrition (~20% birth bodyweight), as this has been shown to significantly impact first lactation milk yield, calf health and feed conversion efficiency (Soberon et al, 2012). Whole milk (WM) is thought to have the optimal composition in relation to the calf 's requirements and has been used as the gold standard to compare commercial milk replacers (CMR) to. CMRs are highly variable, because of the differences in formulation balance, raw material inclusion and nutrient digestibility; these different components are discussed in detail below.
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