Effects of spray-dried animal plasma in calf milk replacer on health and growth of dairy calves

Male Holstein calves (n = 120) purchased from local dairy farms were fed one of three calf milk replacers for 42 d. Experimental milk replacers were formulated to contain whey protein concentrate (WPC) as the primary protein source or WPC plus 5% spray-dried bovine plasma (SDBP) or spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP). The SDPP was heated to remove heat-insoluble materials and provide products with similar IgG content. Calves were also fed commercial calf starter and water for ad libitum consumption. Intake, change in body weight (BW), feed efficiency, morbidity and mortality were determined. Mortality was 10, 3, and 2 in calves fed WPC, SDBP, and SDPP treatments, respectively. Morbidity, measured as the number of days that calves had diarrhea was reduced by 30% when SDBP or SDPP were fed. Calves had diarrhea for 6.9, 3.9, and 4.7 d during the 42-d study when fed commercial calf milk replacer containing WPC, SDBP, and SDPP, respectively. Fecal scores tended to be reduced and feed efficiency tended to be improved when SDBP or SDPP were fed. Mean intakes of total dry matter during the 42-d study were greater when calves were fed SDBP or SDPP and were 661, 710, and 684 g/d for calves fed WPC, SDBP, and SDPP, respectively. Mean BW gains from d0 to 42 were 231,261, and 218 g/d, respectively. Calves fed SDPP tended to have lower BW gain during the first 28 d of the study. However, difference in daily BW gain from d 1 to 28 was only 39 g/d. Inclusion of SDBP or SDPP in milk replacer reduced morbidity and mortality of milk-fed dairy calves.