Page 6 • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, March 23, 2019
Is whole milk perfect for calves? Maybe not. WHOLE TRUTH MILK
THE
According to the National Research Council (NRC)1 and the U.S. Department of Agriculture,2 whole milk is deficient in many vitamins and minerals needed for proper calf growth and development. PERCENTAGE OF NRC-RECOMMENDED1 TRACE MINERALS AND VITAMINS IN WHOLE MILK
66%
6%
3%
4%
30%
MANGANESE
ZINC
COPPER
IRON
COBALT
IODINE
Whole milk has been the gold standard in calf feeding for many generations. When it comes to whole milk feeding, it can be hard to distinguish facts from fiction. But one fact holds true – you expect your calves to perform. Whole milk can lack thee necessary vitamins, minerals and optimal al protein-to-fat ratio your calves need to meet eet modern-day performance demands. Calves are expected to achieve weaning growth goals sooner, have faster rumen development ment and grow more efficiently. These expectations tions are beyond what whole milk alone can provide. ovide. Incorporating new technologies into the lactating actating total mixed ration is commonplace – it’s time ime to look at whole milk through the same lens ns to help your calves get the right nutrition at the right time, every time.
Myth: Whole milk contains all of the nutrients calves need
0.7%
MODERN CALVES NEED MODERN MILK
100%
16%
51%
VITAMIN A
VITAMIN E
VITAMIN D3
MODERNIZE WHOLE MILK TO MEET TODAY’S BUSINESS GOALS
A quality calf starter can help offset these nutritional gaps, but most calves will not consume enough starter in their early days of life.
Myth: Whole milk provides a consistent meal every time
Fortify to make up for what is missing Calf Solutions® Whole Milk AddVantage® is a whole milk fortifier that can add vitamins and minerals to bring whole milk in line with NRC guidelines. Other ingredient options include larvicides for fly control, and lasalocid and decoquinate for protection against coccidiosis.
WHOLE MILK
Whole milk used for calf diets is often sourced from cows whose milk is not able to be sold to consumers. This milk is often lower in quality and has an inconsistent nutrient profile.
AddVantage
®
The largest swings in whole milk quality are milk solids – ranging from 5 to 14 percent. With this variation, whole milk could be more or less nutrient dense on any given day. INCONSISTENT WHOLE MILK SOLIDS CAN SLOW PERFORMANCE
5%
LESS
WHOLE MILK SOLIDS
14%
MORE
Balance for consistent nutrition
BalanSure
INCONSISTENT MILK SOLIDS
WHOLE MILK SUPPLEMENT
®
GROWTH ®
Calf Solutions® BalanSure® is a whole milk balancer that can add a higher level of protein with minimal fat to encourage lean growth.
HEALTH CHALLENGES & DAYS TO WEANING
Myth: Feeding more whole milk yields faster growing calves Even when whole milk nutrient levels are in check, protein and fat levels can fluctuate significantly. This variation makes it more difficult to manage whole milk for a consistent protein-to-fat ratio. • Optimal protein-to-fat ratio: 1.0 to 1.4 • Protein level variation: 23 to 41 percent
Extend to help with milk shortages
21-18 Whole Milk Extender ®
• Fat level variation: 22 to 38 percent
Whole milk supply can vary considerably. Calf Solutions® Whole Milk Extender can help stretch the whole milk supply while adding vitamins and minerals, which are often missing in whole milk.
A HIGHER PROTEIN-TO-FAT RATIO SUPPORTS FASTER CALF GROWTH
®
®
®
<1.0
1.0
1.4
SHORT, FAT CALVES
MODERN CALF GROWTH
A HIGHER PLANE OF NUTRITION
HIGHER FAT
HIGHER PROTEIN
To calculate the protein-to-fat ratio, divide the percent of protein by percent of fat. For example, whole milk with 28 percent protein and 28 percent fat would have a protein-to-fat ratio of 1.0. National Research Council. 2001. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle. 7th ed. Natl. Acad. Press, Washington, DC. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2008. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 21. Nutrient Data Laboratory Home Page, http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/ndl.
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Visit wholemilktruth.com or call 855-227-9104 for solutions to bring your whole milk to the next level.