The waste milk vs calf milk replacer debate

12 August 2008

The waste milk vs calf milk replacer debate

Does it really pay to feed waste milk to calves?

Would you like your heifer replacements to maximise their subsequent contribution to the bulk tank? “The genetics are waiting to be exploited and if herd health issues have been identified and resolved during planning revues then it leaves nutrition to achieve your aims - and you have got to get it right from day one,” says XL Vet, John Macfarlane of the Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group.

“After ensuring every calf receives quality tested colostrum for the first three days, including an essential six pints within the first six hours, you have to decide whether or not to feed waste milk, calf milk replacer (CMR) or a combination? At first glance it seems obvious that waste milk will be cheaper. Stop and think again. Will it really be more cost effective? There is a difference.”

Mr Macfarlane urges farmers to remember the following three points when weighing up the options.

1. Eliminating antibiotic resistance

If waste milk includes milk discarded from antibiotic treated cows or cows with mastitis then it should not be fed to calves because the risk of producing antibiotic resistance is increased immeasurably. Defra’s Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock specifically advises against this practice.

2. Avoiding disease transmission

If Johne’s disease, Salmonella dublin or Mycoplasma bovis are present in the herd, then waste milk feeding will be detrimental to its health. Indeed, I would argue that you should not even consider feeding waste milk unless you are sure that the herd’s status for each of these three diseases is negative.

3. Achieving improved performance

Calves will grow faster if they are fed quality calf milk replacer on a cold ad-lib basis compared with waste ad lib milk. The University of Central Lancashire, Myerscough College found that calves fed calf milk replacer weighed over 15kg heavier at six week weaning in recent trials.

“To maximise first lactation yield, fertility and longevity potential heifers should be targeted to calve at 24 months, and Holsteins should weigh 600kgs,” says Mr Macfarlane. “Missing the 24 month target will result in a cost of £50 per month for the duration of the catch up period. So it seems obvious to kick-start heifer potential by investing in feed costs when they weigh 40kg rather than trying to play catch up with a 500kg heifer which is struggling to make the weight at two years old.”

Take home advice

• DO NOT use waste milk from treated/mastitic cows.
• DO NOT use waste milk unless you are sure the herd is free from certain diseases.
  Check your heifers’ current growth performance and compare the costs of waste milk v calf milk replacer. You’ll find that calf milk replacer systems instantly look more attractive.
  Feeding quality calf milk replacer unleashes growth potential of heifer calves so that they maximise production and health potential as milking heifers. Check out if your heifers are hitting the 600kg, calving at 24 months target.

Waste milk is often fed as it is considered to be ‘free’, providing a cheaper option than buying a bag of calf milk replacer, but according to Volac’s milk replacer specialist Maggie Gould, this option is rarely the most costeffective. The risks associated with feeding waste milk are high and the costs are invariably hidden in reduced returns and higher Veterinary costs. Whilst there is no doubt that these costs are real, it is not easy to measure the impact of reduced growth rates and increased health problems on overall profitability. Nevertheless, good farm management accounting systems which monitor the overall cost of rearing calves

Case study

Adrian Pritchard says the performance benefits are tangible since he swapped waste milk for calf milk replacer fed to calves bred from the family’s 300 cow grading up pedigree Holstein herd at Gellywastad, Llandybe, Carmarthen. “Nowadays we hardly see any scouring, the calves look visibly stronger, they’re in better condition at weaning and overall, much healthier – we can rest assured they will be Johne’s free.”

Mr Pritchard who farms in partnership with his wife Hannah and parents, Iwan and Val explains: “We used to have a flying herd and fed waste milk to calves – dump milk and that from the high cell count cows, from a bucket or bucket and teat system. Since we decided to retain all our own replacements, we agreed they needed a top class start and introduced Volac Heiferlac, a calf milk replacer which is specifically formulated for modern dairy animals with very high levels of pure dairy protein, lactose and a specially selected blend of vegetable oils,” he says.

“The main advantage of changing over to calf milk replacer is being able to feed milk of consistent quality, day in day out. We’ve also introduced a computerised feeding system which offers milk at a consistent temperature, ensures a controlled volume on a little and often basis, and eliminates any competition between calves.”

Find out more information on calf milk replacers.

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