Evaluation of enzyme-modified wheat gluten as a component of milk replacers for calves

Holstein bull calves (n=120) were assigned randomly to be fed either of five milk replacers (MR) that contained different amounts of crude protein (CP) and protein from wheat gluten (WG) for 6 weeks. Weight gains of calves fed MR containing 20% CP, with either 0, 30, or 50% of the protein coming from WG, were similar, as were gains of calves fed MR containing 18% CP with either none or 33% of the protein from WG. When WG supplied 33% of the protein, calves fed 18% CP gained as much as calves fed MR containing 20% CP. Calves fed MR containing 20% CP consumed more dry feed than those fed MR containing 18% CP, when both used only milk sources for protein. Calf feces were more solid when calves were fed MR containing 20% CP if 30% of the protein was supplied by WG, compared to when 50% was supplied by WG. Enzymemodified WG was an effective substitute for milk protein in a calf milk replacer.; Dairy Day, 1994, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1994;


Introduction
Calves need milk or a high energy, high protein MR in very early stages of life.Good performance can be attained by using all-milk protein MR; however, more economical sources for part or all of the protein for MR are needed.In a recent study conducted at Kansas State University, nursery pigs showed a significant improvement in performance when WG was included at 6 to 8% of their diet.The objective of this study was to evaluate soluble (enzyme modified) WG as a protein source in MR for calves.

Results and Discussion
Five calves died during the 6 wk of the experiment: one each on 20WG0, 20WG30, and 20WG50, and two on 18WG0.
Table 3 summarizes averages of body weights.At wk 6, calves fed 20WG50 were heavier (P<.10) than calves on 18WG0.No other differences in body weights occurred among other treatments during the 6-wk study.
Table 4 presents body weight gain.From wk 2 to wk 4, the calves on 18WG0 gained less (P<.10) than calves on 20WG30 and 18WG33.From wk 4 to 6, weight gains of calves on 20WG0 and 20WG50 were greater (P<.05) than gains of calves on 18WG0.Calves fed 18WG33 gained more (P<.10)than calves on 18WG0.Overall, calves on 20WG50 gained more (P<.05)than calves on 18WG0.In addition, calves fed 20WG0 and 18WG33 gained more weight than calves on 18WG (P<.10).No other difference in body weight gain was observed.
Table 5 illustrates dry feed consumption.Wk 6 and overall amounts of dry feed consumed were greater (P<.05) for calves on 20WG0 than calves on 18WG0.
The average fecal scores (Table 6) were lower (P<.05;less diarrhea likely) for the calves on 20WG30 than for the calves on 20WG0 in wk 1.In wk 2, calves on 20WG30 had lower (P<.05)fecal scores than calves on 20WG50, 18WG33, and 18WG0.Calves on 20WG0 had lower (P<.05)fecal scores than calves on 20WG50 and 18WG0.According to overall fecal scores, more (P<.05)diarrhea was likely for calves on 20WG50 than for calves on 20WG30.

Table 6 . Mean Fecal Scores of Calves Fed Milk Replacers
Means within column without a common superscript letter differ (P<.05). a,b,c,d