Replacement of Skimmed Milk with Hydrolyzed Fish Protein and Nixtamal in Milk Substitutes for Dairy Calves

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted with 3- to 5-d-old Holstein male calves. In Experiment 1, 15 calves were assigned to three dietary treatments. The control diet was based on sodium caseinate, lard, and cerelose. In the other diets, either 50% or all carbohydrates were replaced by lime-treated corn flour (Nixtamal). In Experiment 2, 35 calves were assigned to dietary treatments in which 0, 50, or 67% low heat skimmed milk protein was replaced by hydrolyzed fish protein; for the replacement diets, Nixtamal was incorporated at 25 or 35% of the dry matter. Control diet protein was entirely from skimmed milk. Milk substitutes provided the only feed during the 8-wk experiment. In Experiment 1, body weight gain and feed efficiency declined when Nixtamal completely replaced skimmed milk but remained unchanged at 50% substitution. Substitution of Nixtamal for skimmed milk powder decreased nitrogen and carbohydrate digestibility but digestibility improved with age. In Experiment 2, replacing up to 67% of skimmed milk protein with partially hydrolyzed fish protein with partially hydrolyzed fish protein concentrate had no effect on body weight gain but decreased feed efficiency linearly at 8 wk and reduced dry matter, nitrogen, and fat digesibility. Nixtamal can replace up to 50% of skimmed milk carbohydrates without detrimental effect on growth rate, feed efficiency, and diarrhea, but digestibility might be reduced. Concurrent replacement of up to 67% of skimmed milk protein with partially hydrolysed fish protein concentrate would be feasible for newborn calves gaining 450 g/d, despite lower nitrogen digestibility.