Preliminary study on protocose as a potential milk replacer for growing calves

Abstract EN

Protocose, aby-product of Starch and Glucose Industry, was evaluated as a cheap and non-conventional plant protein source and a potential milk replacer for growing calves.

The by-product is rich in protein (22.9%) and energy (16.3 MJ/kg).

Using a complete randomized design 65 suckling calves (2 to 3 weeks of age) of both sexes were randomly divided into four groups.

Each group was offered one of the following weaning diets composed of whole milk, skimmed milk, protocose and protocose fortified with minerals and vitamins (Minovit), for nine weeks before weaning at the age of 12 weeks.

The results indicated significant differences (P < 0.01) in the weekly body weight gains between the four groups for the first, second, third, fourth, sixth and eighth weeks.

The data also portrayed that the highest rates of gain and daily body weight gain were attained by the whole milk, and skimmed milk groups.

Inclusion of protocose to replace whole milk at 50% level resulted in growth rates approaching 75 and 79% of that of whole milk and skimmed milk respectively.

protocose nutritive value and utilization can be boosted by mineral forti-fiction to secure overall mean rates of gain approaching 89 and 95% of whole milk and skimmed milk respectively: Feeding protocose up to 50% can thus reduce calf rearing costs substantially and with no deleterious health effects