*** Powder milk vs whole milk ***

The price of powder milk has gone up by over €60 per tonne – this has egged the question as to weather we use powder milk or whole milk for rearing calves.

In my opinion, the risk of Johne’s infection by feeding whole milk to calves places a major question on the use of whole milk. Suckler calves need excellent immunity associated with antibodies generated through whole colostrum.

Feeding whole milk contaminated with Johne’s places a major challenge to the immune system of the calf and creates a major problem for the future survivability of the animals that become infected and the replacements for the future of your herd. In the marketplace for milk and dairy products, certification of herds as being Johne’s free will be required in the future.

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