Abstract
Three studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of calves fed milk replacer containing liquid egg as an alternative protein and to determine the optimal levels of liquid egg to include milk replacers. Calves on trials 1 and 2 were assigned to a diet of all milk protein milk replacer (MILK) or a diet containing 5% of the diet from liquid egg (5%EGG) on arrival. Calves on trial 3 were assigned to one of 4 diets, an all milk protein milk replacer (MILK), a diet containing 5, 10 or 15% of the diet from liquid egg (5%EGG, 10%EGG, 15%EGG). For all experiments, milk replacers were formulated to contain protein and fat levels at 20% of DM and were fed 454 g/d reconstituted to 12% DM. Production of the diets containing egg protein utilized breaker eggs that were pasteurized during production of the milk replacer. Holstein bull calves (n=44 for Exp. 1, n=38 for Exp. 2, and n=120 for Exp. 3), were purchased from an area sale barn. Experiment 1 utilized a complete randomized design. Experiments 2 and 3 utilized a randomized complete block design with initial weight as the blocking factor. Calves were housed in individual hutches with water available free choice from d 0. A high quality, commercial calf starter was available free choice beginning at d 7 for Exp 1 and 2 and at d 1 for Exp 3. Feed intake, incidence of scours and antibiotic treatments were recorded daily. Calves were weighed weekly. Calves were weaned at a minimum of 42 d with weaning dependent on the calf eating a minimum of 454 g of calf starter for 3 consecutive d. For Exp. 1 calves fed 5%EGG had significantly greater average weekly weight gains and ADG (P<0.05) than calves fed MILK. No differences in ADFI were observed between groups. For Exp. 2, there were no significant differences in weekly weight gains, ADG, ADFI or feed efficiency between calves fed MILK or 5%EGG. For Exp. 3, there were no significant differences in weekly weight gain, ADG, or ADFI for calves fed MILK, 5%EGG, or 10%EGG. Calves fed 15%EGG however, had significantly lower weekly weights, ADG, total gains, and increase weaning age. These results indicate that at low levels egg can be used as an effective alternative protein source to replace a portion of milk protein in a commercial calf milk replacer.
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Introduction
The use of alternative proteins in milk replacer have been evaluated extensively for their ability to decrease the cost of milk replacers and because alternative proteins are more readily available than milk proteins. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of calves fed milk replacer containing liquid egg as an alternative protein and to determine the optimal level of liquid egg to include in calf milk replacers.
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Objective
1. To determine if liquid egg is an acceptable alternative ingredient source in calf milk replacer.
2. To determine the optimal level of liquid egg to use in calf milk replacers.
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Materials and Methods
Animals and housing:
- Exp. 1, n=44
- Exp. 2, n=38
- Exp. 3, n=120
- Calves were housed in individual hutches
Feeding
- Milk Replacers:
- All formulated to contain 20% CP, 20% Fat
MILK - 0% of formula from Egg
5% EGG - 5% of formula from Egg
10%EGG - 10% of formula from Egg
15%EGG - 15% of formula from Egg
- Calf Starter:
- 18% protein, 5% fat
- Exp 1 and 2.
Fed free choice beginning on d 7
- Exp. 3
- Fed free choice beginning on d 1
- Water
- Fed free choice beginning on d 0
- Weaning
- Calves were weaned at a minimum of 42 d with weaning dependent on the calf eating a minimum of 454g for 3 consecutive d.
Data Collection
- Weights recorded weekly
- Feed Intake recorded daily
- Fecal scores recorded daily on a scale of 1 to 4
- 1 = very firm, 4 = extremely watery
- Antibiotic treatments recorded daily
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Table 1
Table 1. Treatment means of growth, feed intake, health, and weaning age for calves fed varying levels of liquid egg in milk replacer diets (Exp. 3)
| Treatment |
| Item |
MILK |
5%EGG |
10%EGG |
15%EGG |
| ADG, kg |
0.63a |
0.63a |
0.64a |
0.53b |
| Total Weight Gain, kg |
35a |
36a |
36a |
29b |
| Total Starter Intake, kg |
57 |
59 |
63a |
53b |
| Wean Age, d |
43.0a |
43.0a |
43.0a |
43.6b |
| Scours, d |
0.63 |
0.60 |
0.20 |
0.60 |
| Treated, d |
2.3 |
1.2 |
0.9 |
1.9 |
| a,b = P<0.10 |
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Figure 1
Effect of Milk Replacer Diet on Average Daily Feed Intake
| Figure 1. Average weekly feed intakes (g) for calves fed varying levels of liquid egg in milk replacer (Exp. 3). |
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Figure 2
Effect of Milk Replacer Diet on Weekly Weight
| Figure 2. Average weekly weightd (kg) for calves fed varying levels of liquid egg in milk replacer diets (Exp. 3). |
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Summary and Conclusions
Summary
Weaning, on average, was 0.6 days earlier for calves fed less than 15% egg protein.
Performance measures (weekly weight, ADG, and total gain) were greater for calves fed less than 15% of the milk replacer from liquid egg.
Conclusion
Egg protein is a suitable replacement for milk protein if :
- The level of egg in the diet is kept low.
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