QUALITY OF PROTEIN IN MILK REPLACERS FOR YOUNG CALVES. II. EFFECTS OF HEAT TREATMENT OF SKIM MILK POWDER AND FAT LEVELS ON CALF GROWTH, FEED INTAKE AND NITROGEN BALANCE

Abstract

Three spray-dried powders were prepared after heating skim milk for 30 min at 60 C (LT), 73.9 C (MT) or 85 C (HT). Each was reconstituted to two concentrations of dietary fat and fed to five or six calves for 26 days after purchase at approximately 1 wk of age. Calves receiving the HT skim milk had significantly (P < 0.05) higher incidence of diarrhea and slower rate of gain over 19 days on test as compared with those fed the MT and LT skim milks. Subsequently growth rate was unaffected by the skim milk source and there were interactions of fat level with skim milk source. The high fat level (22.2% of dietary dry matter) resulted in a higher incidence of alopecia than in calves receiving the low fat level (16.2% of dietary dry matter). Nutrient digestibilities and nitrogen balance, measured from day 20 to day 26, were unaffected by skim milk treatments or fat concentrations. This experiment indicated that young calves, less than 3 wk of age, require a diet based on skim milk that has not been severely heat-treated and the curd formation is a suitable index of quality for such milk replacer diets. Where control diets for milk-replacer studies are designated "all milk protein," it is important for correct interpretation to define their curd-forming characteristics. For older calves, coagulation appears not to be a requirement.