Viability of waste milk pasteurization systems for calf feeding systems

The objective of this study was to determine amount and composition of waste milk (WM) generated by 13 dairy farms and to measure effectiveness of on-farm pasteurizers. Waste milk was sampled bi-weekly from three farms located in North Carolina (NC) for 28 weeks and twice from ten farms in California (CA) in June 2005 and Jan. 2006. Amount of waste milk generated ranged from 2.48 – 9.84 L/calf/d. Standard plate count (SPC) of waste milk before pasteurization averaged 17 million cfu/ml on NC farms and 1.6 million cfu/ml on CA farms. Pasteurizers failed to deactivate alkaline phosphatase in 16%, and <5% of the time in NC and CA. California WM had lower post pasteurized SPC (13,000 cfu/ml) than NC farms (430,000 cfu/ml).

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate supplementing WM with 28% protein: 20% fat milk replacer (28:20) when WM is insufficient relative to calf demands. Treatment (TRT) 1 calves received M for 28d and then 28:20 until weaning at 56d. Treatment 2 calves received 28:20 for 28d and then milk until weaning. Treatment 3 calves received 28:20 for the entire period Four periods of time were evaluated; the total period, first four weeks (P1), transition period (TP), in which calves were switching diets, and until weaning (P2). Treatment 1 ADG was higher during TP as compared to TRT 2. Results demonstrated that similar growth rates through 8 weeks of age was achieved with either combination of M and 28:20 or only 28:20 fed on an isocaloric basis.