What you need to be mindful of when feeding whole milk to calves

“Whole milk” could be:

· Colostral milk

· Transition milk

· High SCC milk

· Antibiotic milk

· Mastitis milk

· Raw or pasteurised bulk milk

· Raw or pasteurised waste milk

Depending on the farm’s definition of whole milk, the constituents can vary greatly. When aiming for a consistent nutrient supply for calves, it is important we try to minimize variation on the ration provided to them.

What are the positives of feeding whole milk?

It is close to nature (when fed at high volumes) and therefore is highly digestible and energy dense (high in fat). Whole milk also contains bioactive ingredients - which we are unsure of their true value of when it come to calf health and performance. Whole milk can also provide an outlet for unsaleable milk, therefore can be quite cost effective. In terms of labour, it can also be quite simple as there is little infrastructure needed in terms of warm water provision and mixing ratios of powder.

What are the challenges to feeding whole milk?

whole milk nutritional infomration table

There is a greater risk of disease transmission (Johnes, TB ect) and may contain potential harmful pathogens (particularly raw waste milk) alongside this risk is also the risk of antibiotic traces in whole milk (colostral milk, transition milk or antibiotic milk) which can lead to resistance. Whole milk can also be low is vitamins and trace elements especially. Table 1 outlines the comparison between NRC calf requirement and Whole Milk.

Depending on the system there can also be seasonal and daily fluctuations in the constituents of whole milk, therefore not providing consistency to the calf. It can also be constricting to staff if they are tied waiting for milk from the parlour.

Milk powder offers consistency and minimises the risk of disease, whilst providing the calves with their recommended nutritional requirements.

Hannah Glyn-Jones View all posts by Hannah Glyn-Jones

Midlands Trainee Calf and Youngstock Specialists

Hannah has been passionate about farming from young age, after watching her parents and grandparents run a dairy farm. Unfortunately, the farm lost their small herd of cows to TB but Hannah has not let that stop her from progressing in the agricultural industry.

Hannah studied Agriculture at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, whilst relief milking on a dairy farm close to home in north Herefordshire, during college holidays and weekends. She was then successfully awarded the Richard Wigram scholarship to work on a kiwi style, 400 cow spring block dairy farm in the North Island, near Hamilton. This is where she learned a substantial amount about grazing management, and the day to day running of the farm.

For 5 years, Hannah has been in charge of rearing youngstock on a farm in South Herefordshire, giving her firsthand knowledge of the problems that may arise within calf and youngstock management, and solutions that are associated with it.

Hannah will be covering the counties of Shropshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire (South Midlands) and will be providing technical advice and promoting sales related to her clients.

Posted in Calf & Youngstock, Calf Feeding, Calf Health and Calf Profit & Management