When we think of the “best” calf milk replacer (CMR) ingredients, most growers would say all-milk formulations take first place.

Winter is actually a pretty great time to raise calves. In fact, many calf raisers report their best growth rates for preweaned calves occur reliably in the winter months each year.

When the mercury eases down, calves’ nutritional needs go up. So, before those colder days arrive, we need to pre-condition those calves.

Scouring and dehydrated calves need electrolyte therapy to replenish fluids and restore the acid-base balance in their bodies. But will any electrolyte product do the trick? Not exactly.

Numerous research studies over the last decade or so have shown that replacement heifers fed more closely to their nutrient needs for higher proteins and fats in the liquid-feeding phase become more productive adult animals.

With newborn dairy-beef calves fetching in the neighborhood of $100 per head more than purebred male Holsteins, it’s an easy decision on the dairy side to strategically incorporate beef sires into their breeding programs.