MASSACHUSETTS ANIMAL INDUSTRY 



SKIM MILK POWDERS IN THE REARING OF 

 YOUNG CALVES 



By J. B. LINDSEY and J. G. ARCHIBALD 



147 



In our studies of substitutes for whole or liquid skim milk in the rearing 

 of young calves, we have tried both the drum dried and the spray dried skim 

 milk powders. 



Method of Manufacture of Milk Powders 



In the spray process, the liquid milk is forced under high pressure through 

 nozzles into the upper part of a heated chamber. The fine spray is dried to 

 a fine powder by the time it reaches the bottom of the chamber. The chief 

 advantage of this process is that the powder is very readily and completely 

 soluble in water. 



In the drum or roller process, the skim milk is fed from a gravity tank onto 

 steam-heated rolls. It spreads out into a thin film, drying as the rolls slowly 

 revolve. The dried film is removed from the rolls by scrapers, ground, sifted 

 and packed. It is somewhat coarser in texture than the spray dried product 

 and does not dissolve in water as readily. The manufacturers claim that the 

 process is not destructive to the vitamins in the milk, especially Vitamin C. 



Pretakation of Skim Milk Powder for Feeding 



One pound of the milk powder and a scant even teaspoonful of salt are 

 added to each gallon of lukewarm water.' The milk powder and salt should 

 first be stirred with a small quantity of cold water to avoid lumping, and after 

 A creamy consistency has been secured, the necessary amount of lukewarm 

 water added, the mixture well stirred and thus fed. Enough can be made up, 

 if desired, to last twenty-four hours, but it should not be fed cold. 



Method of Feeding 



Whole milk was fed for the first week after weaning and then the skim 

 milk solution gradually substituted. Not over nine quarts daily were fed to 

 each calf and it is better, although not necessary, to continue feeding a min- 

 imum of two quarts of whole milk daily during tiie first six or eight weeks 

 of the calf's life. After the first month, the calf was taught to eat rowen 

 and a calf meal made up of 30 pounds red dog flour, 30 pounds ground oats, 

 15 pounds linseed meal, 24y, pounds of corn meal and % pound salt. By 

 the time the calf reached four months of age it was eating one and one-half 

 to two pounds of grain daily and a considerable amount of hay. 



The experiment was ended when each calf reached the age of four months 

 at which time the milk was gradually removed and dry feeds substituted. It 

 is preferable, however, in case of promising dairy heifers, to continue giving 

 some of the skim milk until the animals are five or six months of age, in order 

 to promote rapid growth. 



' If desired, one pound of the milk powder may be used to 5 quarts of water. 



