Nutritional and Economic Benefits of Calf Milk Replacers
Most farmers resort to milk replacers for the benefits that they hold over whole milk such as increasing growth rate. Therefore, this article will look at some of the nutritional and economic benefits of calf milk replacers.
1. Easier To Digest
The ingredients and composition is specially designed for the digestive system of the calf in mind. Milk replacers have less fat than whole milk, and the fat is encased in protein with added vitamins and acids. The calf milk replacer also ensures that crucial nutrients such as albumins, fatty acids, lactose, minerals, and vitamins are also present in their composition.
2. More Nutritional
The powder is highly soluble in water thus allowing the calf to take in all ingredients to get the most nutritional value from the milk replacer. Additionally, since calf milk replacers are manufactured, the manufacturer has the liberty to add more nutrients that he or she deems fit for the health of a calf. This then makes milk replacers more nutritional than whole milk.
3. Earlier Weaning
High consumption of concentrates results to fast development rates. Therefore resulting in the rumen of a calf developing faster thus enabling earlier weaning. Additionally, the earlier a calf begins to wean the longer it will remain productive in its lifetime.
4. Guaranteed Quality
Milk replacers undergo a thorough assessment and the brands are governed by state policies and regulations regarding the same. Therefore, a farmer is resting assured of great quality products which will sustain the calf as it grows.
Aside from having tremendous nutritional value, calf milk replacers also provide great benefits to the economy as follows:
5. Lower Costs Per Litre
Calf milk replacers tend to be cheaper with an increase in quantity as per the sales of most calf milk replacer brands. Therefore, when a farmer purchases milk replacer in huge quantities, he can enjoy great value for his money besides raising a healthy calf.
6. Lower Risk Of Disease
Feeding milk replacers to calves helps to prevent the transfer of diseases from a cow to a calf such as Para-tuberculosis which is transmitted through suckling. However, with calf milk replacers, there is no need for a calf to breastfeed and the solution is fed to the calf through hygienic methods to prevent the calf from transmitting illnesses.
7. Convenience
Calf milk replacers can be fed throughout the day whereas whole milk from the cow is not nearly as convenient. This is because whole milk is not always readily available as opposed to milk replacer which can be fed to the calf at any point of the day.
8. Less Effort
Using a milk replacer takes up much less labor and time than having the calf feed on its mother, especially if the farmer is using an automatic feeding system. Similarly, the quantity of milk replacer that you offer to a calf is more controllable than that of whole milk from a cow therefore, you can feed your calf in a systematic manner.
9. Longer Shelf Life
Calf milk replacers contain a lifespan of up to 12 months and can therefore be stored for several months without going bad.
Conclusion
Milk replacers are known to be excellent for newborn calves for all the reasons mentioned above.
