Calf stage (0-6 months)

Colostrum
Calves are typically fed colostrum for the first few days of its life. Colostrum is rich in antibodies and gives the calf extra nutrients needed to grow. It is the first secretion the cow creates from the udder. Our stores sell Grober powdered colostrum, large quantities available at request.

Calves are fed milk replacer for 4-8 weeks depending on the farm and the farmer. Feeding levels of milk replacer solution that are higher than traditional levels, 4 litres/day (1.1 gallon/day), is the key strategy to doubling the birth weight. Our stores carry a wide variety of milk replacers:

Shur Gain Optivia Advantage Milk Replacer is a non-acidified milk replacer.

Shur Gain Optivia Advantage Milk Replacer is a high protein acidified milk replacer that has been fortified with the key amino acids – lysine and methionine. Summer and winter mixes are both available.
Shur Gain Optivia High Performance Milk Replacer is a high quality acidified milk replacer.

Shur Gain Optivia High Performance (22-18) is a non-acidified milk replacer.
Mapleview Sure Start milk replacer with deccox is a highly digestible, skim milk based milk replacer formulated and designed for optimal growth of young dairy calves.

Mapleview Express Start milk replacer with deccox is a skim milk based milk replacer formulated with a higher fat level which increases the energy available to the calf.

Mapleview Rapid Start milk replacer with deccox is a milk replacer for young dairy calves made using a blend of milk ingredients specifically suited for acidification.

Serval Happy Calf milk replacer is a mid range protein calf milk replacer for raising heifer or dairy beef calves.

Serval 20-20-20 Calf milk replacer is a high energy calf milk replacer for the raising of replacement heifers or grain veal calves. Well suited for manual mixing or computer feeding programs.

Serval Calf Max Milk Replacer (26-16) is a a high protein calf milk replacer for the raising of replacement heifer calves. Well suited for computer feeding programs or manual mixing.

Our stores also carry a variety of calf starters, including:

Tricounty Feeds 20% Calf Starter Plain which has all the benefits a healthy calf needs. If it is growing well, the calf doesn’t need the extra help with the rumensin.
Tricounty Feeds 20% Calf Starter Plain with rumensin — the rumensin helps prevents coccidiosis (parasitic disease) and helps the calf grow faster.
Tricounty Feeds 20% Calf Starter Plain with deccox — deccox prevents scours.
Tricountry Feeds 20% Calf starter Grower Medicated with rumensin is a pelleted starter.
Tricounty Feeds 22% Rapid Gain calf starter has more protein in the ration.
Shur Gain Rumiax is our mills’ special blend. It’s a unique blend of calf starter and straw, to be fed free choice. Feeding hay is unnecessary as the straw makes up the fibre.

Heifer stage (6 months – 2 years)

Heifers are fed a mixture of corn silage, hay, or grain; they can also go on pasture. As a supplement, 17% heifer grower with rumensin can be fed to encourage growth. You want the heifer to gain over a pound and a half to two pounds per day. Heifer mineral is also available.

Milking stage (2 years+)

During this stage, cows are fed a mixture of corn silage, hay, or grain; they can also go on pasture.
Feed can be supplemented with a pelleted grain (i.e. robot pellets). Elgin Feeds custom blends its pelleted feed for your cow’s needs.

There is a benefit in feeding TMR (Total Mix Ration), since it is consistent and the farmer can make it more easily themselves. Our stores carry supplements and minerals, as well as top dresses. Cobalt salt blocks, as well as trace mineral and white salt blocks, are commonly used by dairy farmers. Farmers also use zenith C, Sodium Bicarbonate, APF fat, etc. to help cows eat more and help increase overall milk production.