Douglas F. Waterman, Ph. D.
Director, Dairy Technology Application
Nutreco Canada Agresearch
Optivia’s
Milk Replacers:
for an Optimized
Future Performance
300
(136.36)
246
(111.82)
250
(113.64)
200
(90.91)
150
(68.18)
226
(102.73)
172
159.2 (78.18)
(72.36)
Weaning
weight
Transition
weight
22:20
Courtesy of Mike VanAmburgh
Remarkable Results
The concept of “Intensified” Milk Replacer was introduced to the
industry in the late 1990’s by Dr. Mike VanAmburgh. He showed that
calves would consume significantly higher amounts of dry matter
from milk than was recommended and that they would gain more
weight, be taller and have more lean tissue growth. Tikofsky et al.
2001 showed that calves raised on a 28:15 versus a 22:20 milk
replacer gained 13 lb (5.9 kg) and 20 lb (9.07 kg) more weight by
weaning and the end of the transition period (Figure 1).
Effect of feeding isocaloric amounts of 22:20 CP:
Fat and 28:15 CP:Fat milk replacers on growth under
identical management – data of Tikofsky et al.
Effect of Feeding Isocaloric Amounts of 22:20
CP:Fat and 28:15 CP:Fat Milk Replacers on Growth
Under Identical Management – data of Tikofsky et al.
Weight, lb (kg)
How you feed and manage your herd replacements during
the first 56 days of life has a significant impact on first lactation
milk yield and this extra milk potential should carry through
to subsequent lactations!
Figure 1
28:15
3
Optimized Milk Performance
However, did these animals maintain the advantage in growth and,
more importantly, produce more milk? We now know that they indeed
did produce more milk and the research now indicates that they
produced approximately 1800 lb (818.18 kg) more milk in the first
lactation. A summary of seven trials that compared cows raised
conventional vs intensified milk replacer programs reported the milk
yield advantage ranged from 1000 to 3000 lb (454.55 to 1363.64 kg)
(Table 1). Figure 2 illustrates the benefit of higher average daily
gains from birth to breeding on lactation milk yield.
Additional first-lactation milk
Foldager and Krohn (1994)
3,092
Bar-Peled et al. (1998)
998
Foldager et al. (1997)
1,143
Ballard et al. (2005)
1,543
at 200 days in milk
Rincker et al. (2006)
1,100
based on projected 305d milk
Moallem et al. (2006)
2,500
Drackley et al. (2007)
1,841
Optivia Milk Replacers:
For the Optivia Program we developed two different milk replacers.
The 22-18 (protein-fat %) is our “High Performance” product. It was
designed to provide adequate protein and energy to support lean
tissue growth and a gain of around 1 lb (454 g) per day. The
“Advantage” product is a 26-16 (protein-fat %). This product was
developed to support 1.75 to 2.0 lb (600-900 g) of gain per day. The
protein to fat ratio and feeding rates were based on the metabolizable
energy (ME) and apparent digestible protein (ADP) requirements for
the targeted ADG and intake (adapted from Davis and Drackley, 1998).
Table 1
Study
The DCHA Gold Standards
The DCHA Gold Standards are available via the DCHA website
(calfandheifer.org). They provide an excellent overview of goals your
herd replacement program should achieve, such as colostrum
management, growth rates, mortality, morbidity, housing and
nutrition. One key point made within the Gold Standards is that
we need to supply these animals a higher plane of nutrition then is
commonly being practiced, especially during periods of cold stress.
This is Why in Our New
We Recommend:
Hoards Dairyman January 2011
Figure 2
Milk
Temperature
Quantity
High Performance
13 °C and 21 °C
(55 °F and 70 °F)
600 g
(1.5 lb)
0 °C (32 °F)
900 g (2 lb)
13 °C and 21 °C
(55 °F and 70 °F)
900 g
(2 lb)
0 °C (32 °F)
1,200 g (2.5 lb)
y = 8240.6x + 13481
R² = 0.2762
Courtesy of Mike VanAmburgh
Milk yield, lb/yr (kg/yr)
First Lactation Milk Yield vs ADG Birth-Breeding
40,000
(18,181.82)
35,000
(15,909.09)
30,000
(13,636,36)
25,000
(11,363.64)
20,000
(9,090.91)
15,000
(6,818.18)
10,000
(4,545.45)
1 (0.46)
1.5 (0.68)
2 (0.91)
2.5 (1.14)
3 (1.36)
Average daily gain, lb/d (kg/d)
Significant Weight Gain
Based on work from Cornell, higher rates of gain resulted in more milk
and 22% of the variation typically observed in first lactation yield
can be explained by pre-weaning growth rate! “Intensified” milk
replacer programs may cost more to implement upfront, but are more
profitable from the standpoint of lifetime profitability.
Optivia Program: An Important Innovation
With these facts in mind, Landmark Feeds is introducing Optivia A new Herd Replacement Program. Optivia incorporates the
latest science based around the “Intensified Concept” and the Dairy
Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) “Gold Standards” in regards to the
milk replacer products, calf starters and management. In this article
we will outline the improvements we have made to the milk replacer
product line, while starters will be addressed in a subsequent article.
4
Optivia Program
Advantage
*For temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F), a thirds feeding is recommended!
For the times of the year when the environmental temperature drops
below 32 °F (0 °C), preliminary research would suggest that calves
can not maintain a target growth rate of 2 lb (0.9 kg) at the above
recommended feeding rates. At these extremely low temperatures
it is highly recommended that a third feeding be provided if you want
to continue growing your herd replacement. In addition, research has
clearly shown that a higher caloric intake will have a positive impact
on the animal’s immune function.
100% Milk Protein
The key to formulating a high quality milk replacer is to start with the
right ingredients. The best sources of protein and carbohydrates are from
milk ingredients (whey, whey protein concentrate, skim milk, delactosed
whey, casein, lactose). These ingredients are highly digestible and
provide lactose which is an excellent source of carbohydrate to a young
digestive system. Calves raised on milk replacers formulated with
ALL MILK proteins consistently out perform those raised with alternate
proteins. Tomkins et al. (1994) reported a trial that compared milk
replacers formulated with varying amounts of alternative proteins and
at different percentages to an ALL MILK formula. Calves fed the ALL MILK
milk replacer gained significantly more weight in days 1-14, recorded
lower mortality and lower morbidity (Figure 3).
Figure 3
Results: Calves Included in Analyses
Resuts- Calves included in Analyses
28
30
29
28
27
26
27
25
24
Figure 5
Amino Acids Reduce the CP Required in a Milk Replacer
1
2
SPC
3
4
Wheat
5
6
Plasma
7
8
Milk
A typical alternative protein milk replacer will save $5-10 per bag, but
if you loose one calf or more, have higher morbidity and/or lower
growth rates, the alternate protein will not be more economical.
Make sure your milk replacer contains only milk ingredients!
Next to lowering mortality and morbidity the success of your calf
program will be measured by how well they grow. The growth goal
should be that the calves will double birth weight by 56 days. This can
be achieved by providing more total nutrients as mentioned above.
You can enhance your chance of success by also providing the highest
quality milk replacer possible.
Mildly Acidified Milk Replacer
for Optimized Results
Another feature incorporated into Optivia milk replacers is mild
acidification. Mild acidification was chosen over full acidification
because the primary goal was to reduce the time the pH of the
abomassum was elevated versus complete preservation of the milk
replacer. Text books have shown that the bacteria that cause scours do
not grow well below a pH of 4.5. A calf’s abomassum is generally
around a pH of 3, but when sweet milk replacer is fed the pH increases
to 6-7 which is optimal for many bacteria (see Figure 4). By mildly
acidifying the milk replacer you lower the amount of time that the gut
pH is above 4.5 thus reducing the optimal time for the bacteria to grow.
Mild acidification will not reduce DMI and will not require additional
mixing to prevent separation. Another benefit which can not be
overlooked is that you do not have to handle dangerous acids yourself,
as we have blended it directly into the Optivia milk replacer line.
1.2
(0.55)
No AA
w/ AA
17% fat MR fed at 1.5 lb (0.68 kg) per day
1.0
(0.45)
Adapted from Hill et al. (2008)
20
Gain, lb/day (kg/day) (0-28 days)
Number of Calves
30
Another feature of the O ptivia Advantage milk replacers is
the addition of supplemental Amino Acids (lysine and methionine).
The purpose of including additional lysine and methionine was
to achieve levels similar to those present in whole milk. Hill et al.
(2008), reported higher ADG days 1-28 for a 26% CP milk replacer with
supplemental amino acids (AA) compared to a 28% CP milk replacer
with or without supplemental AA. The overall benefit is that less
total protein is being fed so the calf is more efficient and it is more
econo­mical for the producer.
0.8
(0.36)
0.6
(0.27)
24
26
% Crude Protein
28
Please Read the Milk Replacer Tag!
Other milk replacers may list supplemental lysine and methionine
on their tag, but this may not necessarily mean extra amino acids
or protein. Synthetics can be added just to meet a targeted crude
protein. This method simply replaces some of the milk protein
ingredients in the formula with synthetic amino acids, which lowers
the overall amino acid balance and potentially makes it less expensive
compared to a product with just ALL MILK protein.
It is always important to read the milk replacer tag to make sure you
are comparing equivalent products. Look at more than just the protein,
fat and mineral levels. Check the ingredient listing and make sure
the product is made with ALL MILK ingredients and don’t be afraid to
ask your nutritionist to explain any differences.
Figure 4
Milk Acidification Reduces Scour Producing Bacterial
Growth in the Stomach
6
x x xx
xxx x x
x xx
xx
xx
xxx
xx
xx
2
xx xx x
4
Period during
which bacterial
growth could occur
x x x x xx
xxxx x x
x
xx x x
pH
Feeding
Time
xx x
Period of
no bacterial
growth
O ptivia milk replacers are formulated to
supply highly digestible sources of nutrients
that will support higher rates of gain, support
lower mortality and morbidity by:
• Using ALL MILK proteins
• Being mildly acidified
• Containing supplemental amino acids
• Providing a higher plane of nutrition
• Adopting DCHA Gold Standards
5