DairyTalk 665: Less Non-Nutritive Sucking, Similar Growth: What Concentrated Milk Replacer Could Offer - by Helmut Demmelhuber

DairyTalk by Helmut Demmelhuber · Sep 17, 2026 · 21m

This podcast episode is based on a scientific study comparing milk replacer concentration and liquid volume in Holstein calves receiving the same daily nutrient supply. Increasing dry matter concentration from 12.5% to 16.7% did not compromise growth, digestion, or overall health, suggesting that nutrient delivery can be adjusted without necessarily sacrificing performance. The more concentrated diet was also associated with less undesirable sucking behavior, but it substantially increased osmolality and produced differences in urine output and insulin response. These physiological changes…