Wheat and Animal Plasma Milk Replacer

Competition among animal feed and human food manufacturing sectors for milk protein ingredients continues to intensify, greatly affecting the availability and price of milk proteins. This competition affects the cost of manufacturing milk replacer and ultimately causes milk replacer prices to rise. Milk replacers that rely exclusively on milk proteins as their sole protein source are the most seriously affected.

Milk replacers that replace a portion of the milk protein with proteins from non-milk sources, such as from wheat and animal plasma, can provide an excellent, affordable alternative to high-priced milk protein ingredients.

Wheat protein isolate is ideally suited for incorporation into calf milk replacers. The wheat protein isolate used in Merrick’s wheat milk replacers is produced from human food-grade wheat gluten proteins that are enzymatically hydrolyzed and transformed to small proteins and peptides, forming an isolate. This isolate is low in fiber and ash and is much higher in protein when compared to milk protein ingredients such as whey protein concentrate. Digestibility of wheat protein isolate dry matter, organic matter and crude protein is very high and is estimated to be 95%.

Animal plasma proteins used in Merrick’s milk replacers provide a unique protein source that contains active albumin and globulin proteins such as IgG and IgM. This highly soluble, high quality protein source has an amino acid profile and nutritive value comparable to nonfat dried (skim) milk and casein. In the digestive tract, IgG has a direct effect on pathogens and may also have a direct effect on the intestinal lining.

Previous research with wheat proteins (Merrick’s, Inc. 2000) demonstrated that calves receiving a milk replacer with wheat protein isolate providing a portion of the protein performed equally compared to calves receiving an all milk protein milk replacer. Calves receiving the wheat milk replacer actually consumed more starter and gained more weight through weaning, although these differences were not statistically significant.

Similar calf performance results have been demonstrated when animal plasma is incorporated into calf milk replacers (Merrick’s, Inc. 1992-1994).

Wheat & Animal Plasma Combination. Additional research was conducted in 2006/2007 at Merrick’s Calf Research Facility to evaluate the effects on calf performance of incorporating both wheat protein isolate and animal plasma into a 20-20 milk replacer. Calf growth and starter intake with a 20-20 Wheat & Plasma milk replacer were shown to be equal to those achieved with a 20-20 all milk protein milk replacer. Calves receiving the Wheat & Plasma formula actually averaged 5 lb heavier at 6 weeks (weaning), 10 lb heavier at 8 weeks and consumed 14 lb more calf starter feed. Trial results are provided below.

Trial Protocol
milk replacer:                          20% protein, 20% fat
                                              8oz powder in water reconstituted to 12% solids
                                              2X daily feeding
calves:                                    24 sale barn bull calves/treatment
housing:                                  outside in individual hutches
general feed management:       free-choice water & calf starter (18% protein, textured) from Day 1
                                              calves weaned at 6 weeks (starter and water only during weeks 7-8)
treatment diets:                       Treatment 1: all milk protein milk replacer
                                              Treatment 2: milk, wheat and animal plasma protein milk replacer
trial date:                                February-March, 2007

Results

* with a P value < 0.03, the Average Daily Gain (6-8 wk) of the Wh & Pl calves was significantly greater than calves on the All Milk treatment . Other values in the table were not significantly different

	All Milk	Wh & Pl	P<*	2yr Avg
Average Daily Gain (lb) 0-6 weeks	1.06	1.18	0.14	0.93
Average Daily Gain (lb) 0-8 weeks	1.27	1.46	0.76	1.36
Average Daily Gain (lb) 6-8 weeks*	1.92	2.32	0.03*	2.04
Total Starter Intake (lb) 0-8 weeks	126.1	140.3	0.34	108.4
Total Gain (lb) 0-8 weeks	71.4	82.0	0.14	73.17
Average Scour Days 0.8 weeks	1.12	0.58	0.16	1.92

Conclusions:

Calf growth and starter intake with the 20-20 Wheat & Plasma milk replacer were shown to be at least equal to those achieved with a 20-20 all milk protein milk replacer. Calves receiving the Wheat & Plasma treatment were 5 lb heavier at weaning (6 weeks), 10 lb heavier at 8 weeks and consumed 14 lb more calf starter feed.

The Average Daily Gain of calves after weaning was significantly greater for calves on the Wheat & Plasma treatment than for the calves receiving the All Milk protein milk replacer.