The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

When it comes to raising great replacement heifers, our goal is simple: maximize performance while supporting optimal calf health. Research shows, time and time again, that keeping calves healthy in the pre-weaning phase sets them up for improved growth, smooth transitions, reduced breeding services, younger age at first calving and increased milk production. In other words, the road to long-term dairy success starts when the newborn calf takes her first breath.

A calf’s gut microbiota and overall gut health are the main drivers of performance and productivity. Not only does a consistently healthy gut set the calf up for lifelong success, but it also improves general performance by encouraging early starter intakes, leading to improved rumen development and an overall stronger and healthier animal. Through collaboration with Alltech, Hubbard Feeds has launched Blueprint® Milk Replacer, using an integrated approach to maximize calf health and performance in the first two months of life. With the highest-quality ingredients, including Alltech’s organic trace minerals, Blueprint Milk Replacer is designed with your future in mind.

Recent research conducted at the University of Minnesota’s Southern Research and Outreach Center (ADSA 2021 Abstract # P345) has demonstrated that feeding a complete Blueprint® Calf Program leads to significant performance and health benefits. In the first two months of life, it recorded:

• 17% improvement in calf starter intake
• 12% improvement in average daily gain
• 12% improvement in hip height gain
• 5% improvement in feed efficiency
• Numerical improvement in fecal scores across two studies

Blueprint Milk Replacer is a first-of-its-kind product, designed to allow calves to reach their genetic potential and enhance digestion and nutrient intake while promoting natural defenses. Formulated with high-quality ingredients for targeted nutrition and easy mixing, Blueprint Milk Replacer is undeniably the easiest decision you’ll make in your calf-rearing program to set your herd up for lifelong success.

Find out more at HubbardFeeds.com.