Article:
In the search for more sustainable and cost-effective feeding options, dairy farmers may soon have a new alternative to soybean meal when feeding young calves. A recent study published in the Journal of Dairy Science explored whether a high-protein corn-based feed ingredient could take the place of soybean meal in calf starter feeds — and the results are promising.
Why Look Beyond Soybean Meal?
Soybean meal is a commonly used protein source in calf feeds because of its high protein content and balanced amino acid profile. However, it can be expensive, and supply issues or rising prices often push farmers to look for alternative options. One such alternative comes from the ethanol industry — dried distillers’ grains (DDG), a byproduct of ethanol production from corn.
Traditional DDG is a great source of protein for adult cows, but it’s not ideal for calves due to its high fiber content, which can slow growth and reduce feed efficiency. That’s where newer technologies have stepped in.
Introducing High-Protein Corn Co-products (HPCC)
Through a process called “fractionation,” ethanol producers can now create high-protein corn co-products (HPCC) with much higher protein and less fiber than traditional DDG. HPCC more closely resembles the makeup of soybean meal — making it a more suitable candidate for calf starter feeds.
The Study: Soy vs. HPCC
To test this theory, researchers fed 42 Holstein calves (split evenly by gender) three different diets:
-
CTRL: Traditional feed with 100% soybean meal
-
50HPCC: Feed with 50% soybean meal replaced by HPCC
-
100HPCC: Feed with 100% soybean meal replaced by HPCC
All calves were weaned at 8 weeks and fed only the assigned grain until 12 weeks. Importantly, the researchers added two critical amino acids — methionine and lysine — to ensure all diets met the calves’ nutritional needs.
What They Found
The results showed that the calves fed the high-protein corn feeds performed just as well — and in some cases better — than those on the traditional soybean-based diet.
Here’s a breakdown of key findings:
-
Higher Body Weights: Calves fed more HPCC gained more weight overall.
-
Faster Growth in Males: Male calves fed 100% HPCC grew faster and ate more than others.
-
Better Feed Efficiency: 100HPCC males were more efficient at converting feed into weight gain.
-
Blood Results: No major differences were seen in most blood markers, though calves on the HPCC diets had higher insulin levels, suggesting a different metabolic response.
-
Digestibility: Feed made with HPCC was slightly more digestible than the soybean meal-based feed.
The Bottom Line for Farmers
This research suggests that HPCC — when balanced with the right amino acids — can fully replace soybean meal in calf starter feeds without hurting calf health or performance. In fact, it might even help some calves grow faster and use feed more efficiently.
For dairy producers looking to cut costs or reduce reliance on soybean meal, HPCC could be a promising new tool — especially as fractionation technologies continue to improve.
Final Thoughts
While more research is needed before this becomes a mainstream recommendation, this study provides a solid foundation for considering high-protein corn co-products in calf diets. As always, work with your nutritionist to ensure any changes in feed are balanced for your herd’s specific needs.
Source:
Journal of Dairy Science – Study on substituting soybean meal with high-protein corn coproducts in calf starter feeds.
