#FeedTheNation: Volac’s unique feed package for calf rearers

As a British family-owned and operated dairy nutrition business, Volac has been at the heart of the UK and Irish dairy industry for over 50 years. In that time Volac has developed into a highly trusted manufacturer within world agriculture and become integral to a highly sustainable, value-added national milk circle by buying local whey and supplying and supporting farmers.

• About 20% of the milk produced by British dairy herds (from c. 300,000 dairy cows) goes for cheese manufacture.
• Volac buys back approximately 1.1 billion litres a year of the whey which is produced by the cheese industry.
• Volac contributes significantly in British cheese makers by buying back more than a billion litres of their whey co-product every year. That’s about half the whey produced by cheese manufacturers in England and Wales. Without this purchase many cheese manufacturers would potentially have to dispose of this valuable ingredient or send it overseas.
• Volac turns this valuable whey into a concentrated milk protein called Imunopro^®   
  
• Imunopro^® forms the basis of Volac’s precision-formulated calf milk replacers, which allow British and Irish dairy farmers to rear the next generation of high performing milking cows highly effectively.

Imunopro^® helps dairy farmers produce better cows more economically and sustainably.It sets calves up for a lifetime of productivity when they reach the adult milking herd. Fed correctly, following Volac milk formula feeding recommendations, this means healthier, faster growing calves; a younger age at first calving; and, ultimately, more milk produced per cow thanks to increased longevity in the herd.

Volac is constantly innovating Our modern calf milk formulas, colostrum products and specialist feeding equipment are designed to safeguard animal health and give youngstock the best possible start in life. Our mission is to combine unrivalled products with versatile technical support tools (e.g. Feed for Growth) and valued practical advice on farm – all delivered, in conjunction with our distributor partners, from a team of experienced, knowledgeable people passionate about helping customers make the most of Volac products and services.

We believe that dairy nutrition is critical to human health and well-being.This belief is reflected in Volac’s purpose: ‘Dairy Nutrition for a Healthier World’, which is delivered through our dairy products and the efforts we make to improve livestock productivity in a world of ever-increasing demands on resources.

Volac also believes that it must play an active role in creating a sustainable dairy industry through credible global leadership.Volac therefore works closely with various industry stakeholders to improve the economic, environmental and social aspects of dairy farming.

Examples of this work includes leading the UK Dairy Productivity Collaboration, as well as participating internationally to help shape the future of food.(e.g. Protein Challenge 2040 project) and the development of ‘future-fit animal feed’.

Making concentrated milk protein – not all whey is the same

At its factory in Wales, Volac processes three million litres of whey a day from milk produced on British farms – almost 50% of the total supply available in England and Wales. That’s 1.1 billion litres of British farmers’ whey processed annually.

But not all whey is the same. Volac’s Imunopro^® is different in that it contains 35% concentrated milk protein.Liquid whey can be processed in a variety of ways to produce different types of whey, including whey powder, delactosed whey and concentrated whey protein (e.g. Imunopro^®).

These forms of whey all differ in both protein and lactose content.Whey powder, for example, only contains 12.5-13% protein, which is less than half the 35% protein that is in Imunopro^®.

It is this concentrated milk protein that is so fundamental for young calf programming and healthy growth, which is why there is so much of it in colostrum. Indeed, cow colostrum contains more than three times the amount of concentrated milk protein found in whole milk.

Essentially, this concentrated milk protein provides the important nutrients calves need for growth, primes their immune system, assists in pathogen control and shapes their development into productive adult cows.

Volac’s unique processing plant in Wales

Powered by its own sustainable biomass fuel plant, Volac’s dedicated calf milk replacer factory at Felinfach – which is a major local employer and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year –  produces Imunopro^® through a unique, low temperature ultrafiltration and evaporation process.

This gently sifts out the valuable proteins (without denaturing them), oils and sugars that the calf needs to form this unique, highly digestible concentrated milk protein (final analysis: 35% protein, 5.5% oil and 48% sugar).

Imunopro^® contains high levels of the essential amino acids needed for calf growth and development, such as lysine and leucine.

It also contains concentrated levels of the important immunoglobulins and lactoferrins needed for calf health and vitality.

For example, lactoferrins play a vital role in priming the calf’s essential defences against disease threats such as scoursImunopro^® also benefits from concentrated milk oils – at five times the level contained in standard whey or skim powders.

Its sugars are similarly concentrated, allowing this uniquely processed, high value nutritional complex to encourage the development of a healthy population of bacteria in the young calf’s gut.

It is the manufacture of this unique concentrated milk protein at Felinfach in Wales that is the foundation of Volac’s young animal nutrition business.

Volac are committed to helping their farmers at this difficult time, and for the months of May, June and July are offering two free bags of any Volac manufactured milk replacer per pallet. Talk to your local merchant or Volac business manager for more information.

#FeedtheNation

Farmers Weekly is getting behind the #FeedtheNation campaign to back UK farmers working flat out to produce safe, affordable and reliable food to feed the nation during the coronavirus crisis.

With our partners, we are raising public awareness of this campaign by highlighting the actions farmers are taking to get food to consumers.

Join in the campaign by sharing your stories with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #FeedtheNation or email us at philip.case@markallengroup.com or telephone 020 8652 4905.