It ’s a determine fact that mother ’s Milk River is the best start up food forbaby fauna : species - specific , perfectly balanced in nutrients , sterile and already paid for . However , there are occasions when that perfect source is not available . perchance it ’s because you and your family desire the Milk River , too , or maybe a ewe ca n’t worry for all her lamb , the shoat just are n’t thriving , or you ’ve got an orphan on your hands . If any of these suit your picture and your baby creature is not yet weaned , then you ’re move to need to use Milk River replacer .
Custom Nutrition
Milk River replacer is just what its name implies : renewal for mother ’s milk for baby animal . Each species does best on replacer that mimics the nutritious balance in its mother ’s milk as closely as possible . Sheep ’s milk is higher in protein and lower in milk sugar than cow ’s Milk River , for example , so just because your dairy moo-cow is giving a mint of milk and you could save money feast that excess to your bottle lambs , resist the temptation .
Not all Milk River replacers are the same , noted Dr. Hugh Chester - Jones , animal scientist at the Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca , Minn. , and Neil Broadwater , denotation dairy farm educator at the University of Minnesota , in their 2009 MN Dairy Days display , Milk Replacers .
“ There are many different milk replacers on the market that vary in protein and fat content and which come from different sources , ” they say . “ take and understand the feed tag so you have it off if a finical replacer is appropriate for your feeding program and growth goals . ”
Pointers On Protein
When pick out a Milk River replacer , look at the protein level and the informant . Milk - source protein is most easy absorbed but more expensive than vegetable - based or creature - base protein . gimcrack milk replacers may compromise your brute ’s growth and well - being . In regard to cattle Milk River replacers , authors Coleen Jones and Jud Heinrichs at the Penn State Extension write in “ Milk Replacer Costs and Your Options : ”
“ Nonmilk proteins are not acceptable for eat calves less than 3 weeks of age . These calf do not digest nonmilk proteins efficiently . ”
Medicated Milk
Some milk replacers contain preventive antibiotic drug , which means that a low dose of practice of medicine is include in the replacer as a sorting of “ insurance policy ” that the baby creature does n’t come down with bacterial infection . This sounds like a fresh theme , but in world , this practice is not designate in most spot . Besides the fact that medicated milk replacers are more expensive , a closer look shows they are n’t necessary . The Washington State University Extension say :
“ There are an increasing number of work that show no benefit to feeding calves antibiotic . Calves feed antibiotic have very immune catgut bacteria , there is little evidence that the antibiotics have value in preventing diarrhea , and calves that have experience adequatecolostrumand fed antibiotic are more likely to have looseness of the bowels than interchangeable calves not fed antibiotics . ”
Ultimately , they recommend treating illness with medicines specific to the consideration only in the animals that exhibit symptoms . Furthermore , just as we have discover with humankind , overutilisation of antibiotics can take to drug - resistant germs .
Rachael Brugger
Check the labels to see what , if any , medicines have been added to ward off scour and such . particularly for smaller surgical procedure that can supervise case-by-case animals for wellness and handle only those that require it , there is n’t as much need for medicated milk replacer . Be aware that the USDA has regulation for medication withdrawal periods in edict that the nitty-gritty is medicinal drug - liberal .
Transitioning To A Milk Replacer
It ’s not difficult to transition to a milk replacer , peculiarly for animals that take to a nursing bottle or bucket readily . If you have the opportunity to transition from mother to milk replacer gradually , this will be optimum for your babe animals , because their digestive systems need to adjust to the change in food .
It may also take them a bit to take to the new penchant . One way to ease them into this is to mix mother ’s milk with Milk River replacer , gradually increase the replacer and phasing out the mother ’s milk . One recommendation is to mix 75 percentage existing Milk River author to 25 per centum fresh on the first mean solar day or two , then 50/50 , and lastly 75 to 25 percentage before transitioning to 100 per centum milk replacer . If you do n’t have that leisure time — an orphan or perhaps a twenty-four hours - onetime calf or lamb from a nearby farmer — conversion from colostrum to milk replacer in a like fashion . Use this gradual method if you shift from one kind of milk replacer to another as well .
By choosing a Milk River replacer containing full - calibre protein and species-specific formulation as well as transition incrementally , your nursing bottle sister will carry on to expand just like its mother - raise counterparts .
