5 Reasons to Feed Merrick’s Milk Replacer
By: Molly Arand, Feed Territory Sales Manager
I’m no stranger when it comes to feeding calves. Till the day I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Platteville, you could find me in the dairy barn. This is just one of the many reasons I really enjoy working with Merrick’s products. I see the success my customers are having and I enjoy watching their businesses grow! Not only are their products great but Scott Mulrooney, our Merrick’s rep, is a wonderful tool for my mills and feed stores. Our territory sales managers really enjoying working with Scott out in the field. Although there are many options for milk replacer, we believe Merrick’s stands above the rest! Here are 5 reasons to sell & feed Merrick’s milk replacer:
Customer Support/ Calf Specialists
Merrick’s provides a high level of commitment to make a positive contribution to individual needs and success of our customers and producers. A major benefit of working with Merrick’s is their customer service. This includes anything from on-farm support to riding along with their nutrition consultants. Merrick’s also puts on calf clinics to educate customers on vaccines, calf management practices, and answer questions that producers may have.
Customizable
With only a 1 ton minimum, Merrick’s can provide a customizable milk replacer. Nutritionist Scott Mulrooney can recommend formulations and provide test information to help determine products that will best meet producer’s needs. Merrick’s provides a wide range of ingredient options such as Amaferm, Celmanex, Clairifly, Neotech 4, Probiotics, and Sel Plex. They also have medicated options such as Bovatec, Deccox, Neomycin, and Oxytetracycline. On top of this, Merrick’s can provide a private label so you can differentiate yourself from your competition.
Biosecurity
Biosecurity is always a concern, especially since calves are vulnerable to disease. Diseases such as Johne’s, Bovine Viral Diarrhea, Bovine Leukosis Virus, Pasteurella, Salmonella, E. coli and Mycoplasma can be transmitted from cow to calf through unpasteurized milk. Biosecurity and disease prevention issues contribute greatly to the popularity and use of milk replacers. Merrick’s not only purchases pasteurized milk ingredients for making milk replacers, but they also include pasteurization as a key step in their manufacturing process.
Quality
Merrick’s takes quality control and assurance seriously. Strict quality control procedures are in place at all Merrick’s manufacturing locations. Their quality control laboratory technicians test all incoming ingredients to ensure that rigid standards are upheld. Merrick’s employees are all directly involved in checking the quality of products as they move throughout the manufacturing process. This strict quality control and the manufacture of nutritionally advanced products result in Merrick’s meeting exact formula standards, providing the ultimate nutrition, palatability, and utilization that is so vital to the growth and development of young animals.
Economics
The use of high quality, lower cost ingredients makes milk replacer a more economic choice than whole milk. Milk replacers are made from byproducts of the milk manufacturing industry. Whey protein concentrate, the major protein source for milk replacers, is a byproduct of cheese manufacturing and is usually much cheaper than other milk protein sources such as casein and skim milk. Since Merrick’s is a basic manufacturer of milk protein and fat products, they have accessibility to the highest quality ingredients. Coupled with Merrick’s large spray drying facilities, they can provide our customers with the highest quality ingredients available at a lower cost.
Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc floor stocks Merrick’s full line of products for all baby animal needs; from milk replacers, supplements and additives to boluses, electrolytes, dry fat products and nursing equipment.
To learn more about Merrick’s products contact your Stutsman Territory Sales Manager, or Scott Mulrooney, Merrick’s representative.