Samenvatting

The production of milk replacers (MR) originated in the 1950s as a side product of cheese production and is widely used in most developed countries by dairy farmers as a substitute for cow’s milk and it has been demonstrated that its use could improve the growth and overall health of young calves, which in turn could lead to an increase in the productivity of dairy farming. MR could help in achieving a higher amount of milk supplied to milk processors in Nigeria by reducing the amount of milk consumed by the calf and improving milk supplied to milk processors all year round. Members of the Center for Nigerian Dutch Dairy Development (CNDDD) are working together to improve the Nigerian dairy sector by sharing Dutch dairy expertise with stakeholders in the sector. This study was commissioned by CNDDD with the objective of assessing the feasibility of using MR as a substitute for cow's milk in calf feeding among small- and medium-scale dairy farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria.