Plant proteins in milk replacers for rearing buffalo calves. I. Effect of replacing half of the milk proteins by plant proteins on the preweaning performance of buffalo calves.

: In an experiment, 12 female and 8 male buffalo calves aged 3 to 4 weeks with an average of 65.2 kg live body weight were divided into 4 equal groups. Group 1 received dried skim milk plus non-milk fat. In groups 2, 3, and 4, 50% of the milk protein were replaced by American soybean flour, Egyptian soya meal, or corn glutine. Scouring occurred in all groups during the first three weeks. Death losses occurred in group 2 (2 calves) and 4 (1 calf). During the first three experimental weeks the calves consumed on average 828, 868, 847, 696 g dry matter (DM) as liquids. The average daily gain (ADG) was 229, 215, 252, 48 g/d, respectively. The energy consumption reached 4.1, 4.6, 3.8, 16.6 TDN/kg ADG. During the second period, the calves consumed 1.57, 1.45, 1.55, 1.65 kg DM as liquid and solid feedstuff. Up to a live body weight of 90 kg they had a daily increase of 695, 611, 593, 600 g. The energy used amounted to 1.98, 2.08, 2.28, 2.40 TDN/kg ADG. The apparent digestibility of the crude protein was 95, 92, 91, 92% during the first period and 81, 77, 76, 73% during the second period.