Alternative Proteins Can Have a Place in Your Calf Nutrition Program
When we think of the “best” calf milk replacer (CMR) ingredients, most growers would say all-milk formulations take first place.
It’s true that we try to mimic the nutrition provided by Mother Nature as closely as possible. But as ingredient refinement and nutritional knowledge have improved over the years, it has become possible to create excellent milk replacer formulations with protein sources other than those derived from milk. These “alternative” proteins can effectively replace milk-based proteins like skim milk, spray-dried whey, and whey protein concentrates (WPC). With dairy ingredients being used in everything from cake mixes to candy bars, and sports drinks to supplements, demand and cost both have risen considerably. Recent supply disruptions also have driven the need for flexibility in ration formulation. Currently there is a shortage of whey, simply because dairy plants have not yet returned to steady, full processing capacity.
“At Strauss Feeds, we take pride in performing stringent lab evaluations of every batch of ingredients used in our manufacturing processes.”
Strauss Feeds has worked with alternative proteins in milk replacer formulations longer than most, thanks to our ties to the veal-raising industry. Along the way, we’ve learned which ingredients best serve our customers and their calves. The “top 3,” all of which can be fed starting the first week of life, include:
Spray-dried plasma protein – This excellent protein source is derived from animal blood plasma. It is highly soluble and digestible, and is considered a “functional” protein source, because it delivers the added bonus of immune support. You may remember some red or chocolate-colored milk replacer containing plasma products in the past, but the red blood cells now are removed. The ingredients we use today contain pure plasma protein.
Wheat protein isolate (WPI) – WPI is produced by processing wheat kernels to separate the starch and gluten fractions, then turn the gluten – the main protein in wheat – into hydrolyzed fractions that do not bind with water. With some rebalancing of amino acids, this protein substitute can generate a high-quality milk replacer formulation.
Soy protein isolate (SPI) – The protein fraction of soybeans is isolated by removing the hulls and fat from the beans, extracting the protein, then processing further to remove fiber and carbohydrates. The end product is a flavorless, purified protein ingredient.
Soy protein concentrate (SPC) is on the “interim” list. Similar to SPI, SPC contains the protein fractions of soybeans. But it is less refined, so it also contains carbohydrate and fiber. This makes SPC less digestible, and the flavor of the soybean is retained, which can lead to palatability issues. Whole soybeans also contain toxins that are retained in SPC, which may negatively impact digestion and immunity in young calves. For these reasons, we recommend waiting until calves are 3 weeks old before switching to SPC-based milk replacer.
There also are products in the marketplace that are formulated with wheat flour, soy flour, potato protein, and pea protein. Each of these ingredients carry drawbacks that usually make them undesirable alternative protein sources that we do not recommend. It’s important to carefully read ingredient tags to be sure input cost savings are not cancelled out by sick, unthrifty calves. Simply identifying ingredients like “wheat” and “soy” is not enough.
For example, there’s a big difference between wheat flour – which can coat the calf’s gut like wallpaper paste and literally destroy digestive absorption – and high-quality wheat protein isolate. The same is true for soy protein isolate (desirable) versus soy flour (undesirable).
Additionally, you should have confidence that the product you are using is manufactured according to strict quality standards. Even an excellent protein source like spray-dried plasma can be damaging, if quality control standards are not in place to detect issues like a batch with a high bacterial load.
At Strauss Feeds, we take pride in performing stringent lab evaluations of every batch of ingredients used in our manufacturing processes. We hold all CMR inputs to consistently exacting standards, including the ingredients manufactured in our own plants.
Visit with your Strauss representative to determine the best protein source and product formulation for your calves and operational goals.
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