Soymilk as a Novel Milk Replacer to Stimulate Early Calf Starter Intake and Reduce Weaning Age and Costs

Abstract

The primary objective was to determine the effects of partial replacement of whole milk with soymilk on preweaning calf performance and weaning costs. Following 3 d of colostrum and transition milk feeding, 18 male and 9 female neonatal Holstein calves (41.6 +/- 1.6 kg of body weight; mean +/- SE) were assigned in a completely randomized design to 3 treatments offered at 10% of body weight (wet basis) including 1) whole milk (control), 2) 75% whole milk + 25% soymilk (S25), or 3) 50% whole milk + 50% soymilk (S50). The weaning criterion was defined as the calf age at a daily intake of >/=900 g of starter concentrate. During the first 2 wk of the experiment, treatments did not differ in starter intake and fecal score. Calves fed S25 gained similar amount of body weight as calves fed whole milk diet. By 49 d of age, also, calves on S25 gained similar body weight as did calves on whole milk diet. Calves on S25 and S50 achieved the weaning criterion, respectively, about 10 and 12 d earlier than did peers on whole milk. The soymilk-fed calves consumed less milk than control calves to meet the weaning criterion owing to promoted starter intake. Feed-related weaning costs dropped by about 35% when soymilk was fed because whole milk was about 50% more expensive than both soymilk and starter concentrate. Feeding soymilk at up to 50% of the milk diet maintained health during the first 2 to 4 wk of age when the neonate calf is highly sensitive to nonmilk proteins and plant antinutrients. Results introduce soymilk as an economic partial substitute for whole milk in calf-raising facilities.

Increase in Crude Protein Content of Milk Replacers with Vegetable Protein: Effect on Health and Dairy Calves' Performance

“…The presence of trypsin inhibiting factors and changes in the intestinal flow could have influenced animal's weight (Drackley et al, 2006). The absence of effect in ADG agrees with similar results obtained by Ghorbani et al (2007). In these type of milk replacers, daily gain is mostly affected by the liquid diet composition, not by the volume fed; therefore, there is no compensatory effect to justify an increase on milk replacer feeding (6 vs 8 L/d) when low quality CP is included.…”

Effects of soybean milk replacer on growth, meat quality, rumen and gonad development of goats

“…Terui et al (1996) demonstrated that wheat gluten can replace milk protein up to 50% in milk replacer without compromising the growth of calves. Ghorbani et al (2007) suggested that replacing 25% rather than 50% of whole milk with soymilk may be the optimum use of soymilk as a milk replacer during the first 2 to 3 wk of age in calves. Replacing 60% of the whey proteins in an all-milk protein milk replacer with soy protein concentrate decreased growth rates and feed efficiency and decreased villus height and crypt depth in the jejunum and villus height in the ileum of calves.…”

“…Soybean is a source of high quality, relatively inexpensive protein that has potential for use in a milk replacer Ghorbani et al, 2007). Soy protein sources such as soy protein concentrate and soy protein isolate have partly been used in milk replacers (Silva et al, 1986;Drackley et al, 2006).…”

Growth performance of calves fed shoti, wheat and soybean based milk replacers

“…Soya protein and wheat protein has an acceptable amino acid profile and is relatively inexpensive compared to most other alternative proteins (Vermeire, 2005). In some countries, soymilk is being used as a novel milk replacer in calf raising facilities (Ghorbani et al, 2007). Soybean meal is an excellent source of vegetable protein (Carpenter 1951).…”