What is a Calf Milk Replacer

People who don’t know anything about calves can get so fired up over milk replacer: They wouldn't need it if they were with their mom! It’s not natural! Just put them back with their moms!

The powder form that milk replacer comes in doesn’t replace the mother, but there is always a reason why a calf might be on it.

“A milk replacer is the primary source of food for the first few weeks of a calf's life. Young calves cannot yet digest grains or hay as an adult cow can, so find an agglomerated milk replacer whenever possible. This will help the young calf digest an even amount of nutrition throughout meals.” (Tractor Supply Co.)

Large dairy and beef farms use milk replacer with bottle and bucket calves. Orphaned calves, sick calves, or calves rejected by their mothers must be on milk replacer in order to live.

It is a common misconception that milk replacer is a calf formula that contains an abundance of growth hormones and antibiotics. I have heard people say that calves are put on a milk replacer in order to be grow faster, giving the farms the ability to harvested the animals quicker. Now, there are formulas that have higher amounts of hormones and the farms are able to put antibodies into the milk. These formulas are essential to animals being raised for meat. Not all milk replacers are the same, just as not all calves are being raised for the same reason. Dairy breeds and beef breeds need different levels of hormones, protein, and vitamins as they grow up. An animal that needs to have a lot of meat on its body will need a larger amount of protein in order to pack muscle onto its bones. Those raised for dairy need to grow fast in order to be added to the heard and be big enough to produce a solid amount of milk.

PC: nyfarmgirls

“Some milk replacers come with additives, or hormones and medications that are added to the milk replacer formula which benefits the growth and health of the calf. Approved milk replacer medications are being limited, however, due to concerns that human consumption of cattle beef causes resistance to antibiotics in humans. It is important to note that no milk replacement additive is 100 percent effective, and sound herd management, sanitation and biosecurity practices are an important part of any calf or cattle feeding program. Common milk replacer medications include: Neomycin and Oxytetracycline used to facilitate weight gain in calves and treat scours. Lasalocid: used to control coccidiosis caused by Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii. Decoquinate: used to prevent coccidiosis caused by Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii in ruminating and non-ruminating calves and cattle. MOS (mannan-oligosaccharides): a non-medicated additive used to promote intestinal health in calves by preventing bacterial scours infections and support immune health.” (Tractor Supply CO.)

Many of the milk replacer are purely dehydrated cow’s milk that is then added to warm water and fed to the calf by bottle or bucket. The milk replacer may have added protein in order to assume that calf, no matter the circumstances of it being taken from its mother, is able to get key nutrients right away.

“Not all milk replacers are the same. There are many different milk replacers on the market that vary in protein and fat content and which come from different sources. Read and understand the feed tag so you know if a particular milk replacer is appropriate for your feeding program and growth goals. Also, growth is regulated by the amount of protein and energy consumed on a daily basis so different feeding levels will affect performance” (Minnesota Diary Team).

By using milk replacer the farmer is able to know the exact amount of milk the calf has consumed and they are able to monitor them on a whole new level. For sick calves most times, medication can be put right into the milk. Skinny calves are able to be monitored on milk replacer. They are given a higher dosage of fat and minerals, depending on the brand of replacer, in order to assure their survival. With calves born as twins or triplets, there may be a runt. The runt might need extra protein in its diet; therefore, the farm can regulate what it eats by putting it on milk replacement. Injured caves need to be pulled from the herd and put on a milk replacer in order to be healed and monitored, giving them the best chance at being healthy.

PC: nyfarmgirls

In some cases the calf may be put on a milk replace due to the mother being sick or hurt. It is essential to the farm that all animals are in perfect health and aren't diseased or injured. Sick cows can easily pass sickness down to their calf by milk or interaction. Also, sometimes, like in humans, the mother dies during labor or another freak accident. Then the calf must be on milk replacer, especially if a surrogate mother is not available to nurse the baby. Even though it is uncommon, In some cases the mother might not be able to produce milk. Milk replacer is able to nurse the baby back to health and keep it strong in order to assure its survival.

“Calves are especially vulnerable to disease. Diseases such as Johne’s, Bovine Viral Diarrhea, Bovine Leukosis Virus, pasteurella, salmonella, E. coli and mycoplasma can be transmitted from cow to calf through unpasteurized milk. Biosecurity and disease prevention issues contribute greatly to the popularity and use of milk replacers.” (Rob Costello, Technical Specialist)

In cases where the mother may be severely injured, the mother and calf need to be separated for safety reasons. No farmer wants to put more strain on a hurt animal or take the risk of an injured animal falling onto another. The calf would likely be removed from the mother in order to make sure she has a proper recovery.

PC: nyfarmgirls

In cases where disease or illness breakout in the herd, young and weak calves may be pulled away and put on formula in order to insure their health. Diseases are able to travel fast in large herds of animals. In situations where the animals are exposed to each other directly as in a large heard, their is the possibility of transmitting disease by body fluids. This includes both feces and situations where the animals touch nose or rub up against one another. In large herds this is common, because livestock, like people, build friendships and a social ranking. Other ways diseases are able to be transmitted is in water tanks and feeding tanks where all the animals eat and drink daily from. All it takes is one sick animal to sneeze on another for an illness to breakout.

Milk replacer is essential to the cattle industry. It is used all around the USA. Women use milk replacers (baby formula) for their children. It can be used with foal's, puppies, kittens, sheep, goats, and even smaller animals such as squirrels. In the cattle industry, it is a way of getting young calves the essential milk they need in order to thrive.

-Jaksen

Resources:

https://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/dairy/calves-and-heifers/milk-replacer-feeding-and%20management.pdf

http://www.merricks.com/uploads/Milk%20Replacer%20Guide%2007-26-12.pdf

Feeding Calves | Tractor Supply Co. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2017, from https://www.tractorsupply.com/know-how_pets-livestock_cattle_feeding-calves