Are You Feeding Your Calves the Right Nutrition?

When it comes to raising healthy calves, milk replacer is often a necessity. But do you really know what’s in the milk replacer you’re using? Many ranchers trust their go-to brands without ever checking the ingredients-and that can have serious consequences for their calves’ health.

A growing number of ranchers have discovered that not all milk replacers are created equal. Some contain alternative (soy) proteins instead of milk-based proteins, leading to severe health issues in young calves. Neonatal ruminants, such as calves, cannot digest soy properly, and it inhibits their ability to absorb essential nutrients.

If you bottle-feed orphan calves or supplement their diet with milk replacers, it’s time to read the label. The wrong choice can lead to malnutrition, scours, bloat, weight loss, and even death.

A Ranch Wife’s Eye-Opening Experience

Maria Neilsen, a ranch wife from El Dorado County, California, learned this lesson the hard way. For years, she had been successfully raising orphan calves with a well-known brand of milk replacer. Then, suddenly, things changed. During two consecutive calving seasons, her bottle-fed calves began experiencing severe symptoms:

 ●Persistent scours (diarrhea)

●Colic-like bloat and teeth grinding

●Lethargy and shivering

●Loss of appetite

●Severe weight loss leading to organ failure

Maria did everything she could to treat these calves. She used calf scour pills, antibiotics, probiotics, mineral oil, and electrolytes, but nothing worked. It wasn’t until she consulted a veterinary specialist at UC Davis that she discovered the problem—her milk replacer had changed its ingredients.

The Hidden Danger of Soy Protein in Calf Milk Replacers

Many commercial calf milk replacers contain soy protein instead of milk protein it is cheaper to produce. However, young calves cannot properly digest soy, because leading to: 

●Gut irritation and inflammation

●Nutrient malabsorption

●Bloating and digestive distress

●Anemia and long-term health deterioration

Maria switched her calves from the soy-based milk replacer to whole cow’s milk—and the results were immediate. Within just four bottles, her sick calf went from near death to running, bucking, and developing normally.

What to Look for in a Quality Milk Replacer

When choosing a milk replacer, check the label carefully. A high-quality milk replacer should contain:

●100% milk protein sources (skim milk, whey protein, casein)

●20% or higher protein content

●20% or higher fat content

●Crude fiber content of 0.15% or lower (higher fiber indicates fillers like soy)

If your milk replacer contains soy, switch to an all milk protein alternative immediately. It could mean the difference between a thriving calf and a sickly, struggling one.

Take Action—Check Your Milk Replacer Now!

If you rely on milk replacers to raise orphan calves, don’t wait until you see symptoms. Take a moment today to read the label on your milk replacer. If it contains soy, consider switching to a product with 100% milk-based protein. 

Your calves’ health depends on it. Don't let a hidden ingredient compromise their growt and survival. Choose the best nutrition for your herd—because strong, healthy calves mean a strong, healthy future for your ranch!

The Truth About Soy in Milk Replacers: Why Calves Can’t Digest It

Calves cannot properly digest soy protein in milk replacers because their immature digestive systems are not equipped to break it down efficiently. Here’s why:

1. Lack of Necessary Enzymes

Newborn and young calves primarily produce enzymes designed to digest milk proteins (such as casein and whey) but lack the necessary enzymes to efficiently break down soy proteins. This leads to incomplete digestion, which can cause digestive disturbances.

2. Anti-Nutritional Factors in Soy

Soy contains compounds like trypsin inhibitors, oligosaccharides, and lectins, which interfere with protein digestion and nutrient absorption. These compounds can causegut irritation, bloating, and scours (diarrhea), leading to malnutrition.

3. Soy Protein Reduces Nutrient Absorption

When consumed, soy protein can actually block the absorption of essential nutrients, particularly; amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. This can lead to deficiencies that result in poor growth, weak immune systems, and developmental issues.

4. Soy-Induced Gut Inflammation

Since soy is more difficult to digest, it can cause inflammation in the intestinal lining, leading to leaky gut syndrome. This can make calves more susceptible to infections and digestive disorders.

5. Rapid Gut Development Requires Milk-Based Proteins

During the first few weeks of life, a calf’s digestive system is designed to process liquid, milk-based nutrients. Feeding soy-based replacers forces the calf’s stomach to process an ingredient it is not yet capable of handling, delaying gut development and causing digestive upset.

Bottom Line: Calves Need All-Milk Protein

Milk-based replacers provide essential proteins (casein and whey) that are easily digestible and bioavailable, supporting healthy growth, immunity, and digestion. Soy based replacers, while cheaper, can cause malnutrition, illness, and even death as the primary source of nutrition. if used

Choosing the Right Calf Milk Replacer: Key Nutritional Guidelines

Protein: The most crucial and costly component of a milk replacer should be at least 20% or higher. Always opt for all-milk proteins, such as dried whey, dried whey protein concentrate, dried whey product, skimmed milk, casein, buttermilk, or other dried milk proteins. In colder weather, calves require even higher protein levels to maintain energy and growth.

Fat: Ensure the milk replacer contains at least 20% fat, preferably from animal sources rather than plant or vegetable oils. In colder temperatures, higher fat content is essential to provide additional energy.

Crude Fiber: The fiber level should be 0.15% or lower. A higher crude fiber percentage often indicates the presence of plant-based or soy proteins, which can be difficult for calves to digest. Some processed soy proteins, such as soy protein concentrate and soy protein isolate, may have reduced fiber but remain unsuitable for young calves due to their altered structure caused by heat and chemical treatments. The poorest-quality option, soy flour , should be avoided entirely, as it lacks digestibility and nutritional value.

Soy and Other Ingredients to Avoid in Milk Replacers

To ensure optimal calf health, steer clear of the following plant-based or alternative proteins:

●Soy flour

●Soy protein isolate

●Protein-modified soy flour

●Soy protein concentrate

●Animal plasma

●Wheat gluten or wheat protein isolate

●Glycine Max (the scientific name for soybean, sometimes used to disguise soy content in milk replacers)

Feeding Guidelines for Thriving Calves

Milk replacers are designed to keep calves alive, but to ensure they thrive, consider increasing the feeding amount to 1.5 to 2 times the standard serving. This helps raisefat and protein intake to more beneficial levels.

●Feeding twice daily is common, but offering three feedings per day more closely mimics a calf’s natural nursing behavior.

●Gradually increasing the powder-to-water ratio in bottles can enhance calf satisfaction and growth.

●Always provide fresh water, calf starter, or kibble alongside milk replacer to support early rumen development.

Whole cow’s milk naturally contains about 27% protein and even higher fat content.While goat’s milk replacers are nutritionally closer to cow’s milk, they tend to be expensive (approximately 25% protein and 28% fat . If opting for a multi-species milk replacer ensure it does not contain soy-based ingredients.

By selecting high-quality, soy-free milk replacers, you can support better digestion, stronger immune systems, and optimal growth for young calves.