Refinements in the techniques used for incorporation of fat and spray drying have improved the nutritional value of milk substitutes. The significance of these developments in protein separation and evaporation/spray drying technology are demonstrated in the new range of substitutes for colostrum which not only have a high nutritional value but also contain active immunoglobulins.

Whilst milk replacers still remain a necessary outlet for excess skim milk powder production, progress has been made in the quality of novel ingredients available. The effect of European Community policy on the formulations used has been to divide milk replacers into two groups, those which do, and those which do not, contain at least 500 g/kg skim milk powder.

A whole range of products based on high protein whey powders has been developed in order to replace skim milk protein in milk replacers. Differences in these whey products reflect the method of manufacture and this has repercussions on their nutritional value. The benefits of ultrafiltration technology, developed for the human food industry, have recently become available to the whey-based milk replacer market.

Although the majority of milk substitutes are used for feeding calves, specific products have been developed for other species. Milk substitutes for lambs were introduced in the 1970s but there has been little commercial incentive for the use of alternatives to skim milk protein in the United Kingdom. Sow milk replacers are a more recent innovation and have taken advantage of developments in whey processing technology.