Instructions for use and composition of Kormilak for calves, feeding rates

Adequate nutrition is the key to active growth and development of newborn calves. It is not economically profitable to use whole cow's milk for feeding young animals. The optimal solution is to use the Kormilak substitute for calves, following the instructions for use. The mixture is fed to calves from birth to 2.5-3 months. The feed is in demand among livestock breeders because it is inexpensive and is not inferior in nutritional value to whole milk.

What is milk replacer: what does it contain?

“Kormilak” is created from a mixture of delactose sweet whey, whey protein concentrate and lactose anhydride.Composition of milk replacer in percentage:

• 73-75% - dairy products (of which 29-30 are sweet whey, 18-20 - whey protein concentrate, 20-25 - delactose whey);
• 5% – mineral and vitamin supplements;
• 9-10% – vegetable protein mixture.

The concentrate, which has a valuable balanced amino acid composition, gives the product special value. Membrane technology makes it possible to obtain a concentrate by drying whey and “purifying” the product from excess minerals and lactose. Also, delactose whey should not be underestimated, since the digestion of newborn calves can only handle a limited amount of lactose.

Advantages and disadvantages

Many manufacturers offer whole milk substitutes for feeding calves. The mixtures are available in different compositions and types (dry powder, concentrated substance, liquid product). Positive qualities of the Kormilak milk replacer:

• the mixture does not contain antibiotics;
• the product is enriched with biologically active elements (vitamins, macro- and microelements);
• Easily digestible milk and vegetable proteins, animal and vegetable fats, and synthetic amino acids are used in production;
• the presence of special emulsifiers prevents the appearance of lumps;
• Additives and flavorings help increase appetite in calves;
• The shelf life of the food is 8 months.

The mixture does not show any clearly defined deficiencies. When diluting food, you must strictly adhere to the proportions specified by the manufacturer. Since violation of the norms can cause diarrhea in animals.

Types and classification

Companies produce milk substitutes according to certain recipes.Depending on the percentage of substances in the product, the powders are intended for feeding calves of a certain age. Several types of Kormilak powder are produced according to the percentage of fat and protein (comparative table).

When choosing a specific type of substitute, you need to take into account its classification (relative to the age of the animals).

How to choose a replacement product?

To choose a high-quality whole milk substitute, you need to take into account several factors: the biochemical composition of the product, the availability of feed for calves of different ages, the type of consistency, and cost. Manufacturers produce two types of substitutes for animal feeding:

• dry powder and concentrated mixtures (diluted with water in certain proportions);
• liquid food, ready to eat immediately.

Dry feed is most in demand, since the products are easier to store and have a long shelf life. A significant plus is that the composition of the feed matches the quality of cow's milk as closely as possible.

If you focus on the cost of the product, you need to take into account that cheap mixtures are of poor quality.

Unprocessed soy flour and other low-quality substances are added to substitutes. Such additives can cause diarrhea in animals, so they are not recommended for feeding calves.

How to dilute dry milk replacers?

Properly prepared milk replacer is better absorbed by the newborn's digestive system.The required part of the powder is first diluted with a small volume of hot water, and then a certain amount of liquid is gradually added so that there are no lumps in the finished mixture. Features of powder dilution:

• the mixture must be fresh, so it is prepared immediately before feeding the animals. The finished product must be fed within 8-10 minutes, since sediment will form later and the nutritional value of the whole milk substitute will decrease;
• the liquid is poured into cleanly washed containers so as not to provoke diarrhea;
• Cold dairy products should not be fed to calves. The mixture should be warm (optimal temperature – 35-38 °C).

It is recommended to strictly adhere to the instructions from the food manufacturer. As a rule, the finished solution of dry powder should contain at least 12%.

Soldering standards

On average, during the growth process, before switching to an adult diet, a calf eats 38-40 kg of whole milk substitute powder. Since the daily requirement of an animal (2 to 12 weeks old) for a dairy product is 6-7 liters, approximately a kilogram of powder is used to prepare the mixture.

As they grow older, after about a month and a half, calves begin to be fed smaller amounts of milk replacer, as complementary foods (hay, silage, vegetables, mixed feed) are gradually introduced into the diet.

In the first months of life, the calf’s body develops most actively. For full growth, an animal needs sufficient quantities of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and microelements.A high-quality and cost-effective substitute for cow's milk is Kormilak dry food.