Why our nutritionists lead the field

A team of our nutritionists recently returned from a visit to the Netherlands on a fact-finding mission to milk replacer specialists, Nukamel. The plan was to learn more about efficient feeding and calf rearing and we reveal their key findings from the company making some of our most popular ranges. 

Our farmers often question the difference in quality between an expensive and cheaper calf replacer, even when the protein and fat content are the same. 

But as our nutritionist Megan Caney found out at Nukamel headquarters, a lot can be learnt from understanding precisely what is in the milk powder and the processes used to make it.

She said: “There’s a myth that skimmed milk powder is superior to whey, but that’s not necessarily valid anymore as it’s more important to understand the quality of the raw materials being used to make the product.” 

Although it may be hard to understand the quality of raw materials, she said there were signs to look out for when studying a label. 

Megan added: “Ingredients like wheat protein, delactosed permeate, casein whey and glucose syrup can indicate inferior ingredients. Likewise, if a product is high in fat, it can mean fats from vegetable oils have been added, which can affect the product’s palatability.

“You could have two labels containing the same protein and fat content, but the quality could be completely different. The ash and fibre content can also give some indications, as an ash percentage lower than 7.5%, with high fibre content, could suggest poorer ingredients.”

Nukamel makes CalfStart Maximise, Hi-Performer and First for our premium calf milk powder range, as well as OmniSmart, a specialised milk replacer containing OmniGen-AF. 

But what the labels won’t tell farmers is how the raw materials are treated, explained Senior Product Manager Charlotte Hodgson, who was also on the trip.

She said: “How the raw ingredients are processed is important to the final product and the animal’s performance. Nukamel only uses ingredients that have undergone low heat treatment, guaranteeing the best digestibility and optimal use of the bioactive components.

“They also test all the raw ingredients at the start and after processing to check their quality. For example, the immunoglobulin level in the whey is tested as it arrives in its raw form and at the end following inclusion in the product.”

Where high heat is used in processing milk, proteins can become denatured. That means they won’t be as efficient at forming a casein clot in the abomasum, so milk will pass through the digestive system quicker and won’t be as easily absorbed.

Charlotte added: “Typically, the difference in price between a medium heat and a low heat-treated skim is £250 to £300 a tonne. Some sources of skimmed milk can also be classed as human food grade, but that often means the milk has been treated at higher temperatures, so it can affect the clot formation due to the proteins being denatured.”

The team also heard about the latest generation in milk powder, ProteGo, a transition milk powder fed to calves after colostrum and before conventional milk powder. 

Dubbed the secret for healthy newborn calves, the transition milk powder is high in Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) enriched dairy ingredients, immunoglobulins and lactoferrin, which play a vital role in their gut health and development.

The product is currently being trialled on some UK farms and we are planning to launch the product next year to our Farmer Shareholders and Members.

Our nutritionists also visited two rose veal farms and saw how calves can perform regardless of their start in life by following strict protocols and feeding good quality milk replacer.

Calves arrive at central collection centres in the Netherlands and neighbouring countries at four weeks old and with an unknown health status. From there, they are grouped by size and sent to dedicated rose veal farms.

Charlotte said: “There’s a lot of pressure on the four-week-old calves when they enter the system. But their precise management protocols and nutrition are key to the animal’s performance.”

Mortality rates on the farms visited were under 2%. Animals are fed electrolytes on arrival before being fed high-quality milk replacers from Nukamel. Concentrates are also offered to help rumen development.

“The farms we visited were extremely slick operations. They showed that despite the varied and sometimes challenging start in life the animals have had, having tight protocols in place can still lead to calves performing well in this type of system,” added Charlotte.

For more on our range of milk replacers speak to your nutritionist or call the Feed Line on 01566 780261.