Lallemand Animal Nutrition Launches SMART GROWS Programme for Calf Health and Young-Ruminant Nutrition

Lallemand Animal Nutrition has launched SMART GROWS, a young-ruminant programme designed to support calf health, welfare and resilience from birth through weaning, the company announced on 30 September 2026.

The programme combines milk replacers, starter feeds, nutritional supplements and farm-management support to address what Lallemand describes as challenges faced by calves during the critical early-life period. According to the company, the first weeks of life are particularly important for young ruminants as they develop their immune systems, establish healthy digestive functions and gradually transition from milk to solid feed.

Lallemand highlighted a specific vulnerability window, describing an immune gap that can occur between two and four weeks of age, when colostrum-derived protection begins to decline while the calf's own immune response is still maturing. The company cited research published in the Journal of Dairy Science indicating that up to one in ten calves do not reach weaning, and noted that early-life health challenges can have longer-term implications for animal development, productivity and future milk yield.

SMART GROWS includes microbial solutions such as probiotics and postbiotics intended to support gut health and nutrient utilisation. Live yeast is also incorporated, positioned by Lallemand as a tool to support rumen development as calves transition from milk to solid feed.

On the milk-nutrition side, the programme includes milk-replacer solutions and approaches focused on maintaining milk hygiene and consistent milk-replacer quality. Lallemand said its milk-replacer offering incorporates yeast-based protein as a digestible alternative to milk protein, adding that the ingredient can support digestion and palatability while also providing opportunities for feed manufacturers to consider formulation costs.

Beyond nutrition, SMART GROWS extends to the calf's housing environment. Bedding solutions are included with the objective of maintaining litter quality and supporting healthier housing conditions. The programme also encompasses feed-technology support, nutrition consulting, on-farm audits and field specialists.

Lallemand has introduced a dedicated digital platform alongside the programme, allowing users to explore young-ruminant solutions according to different stages of animal development and production objectives. The programme covers the period from pre-weaning through post-weaning, with stated objectives including gut health, resilience, successful weaning, feed efficiency and formulation optimisation.

Laurent Dussert, Global Category Manager, Ruminant and Equine at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, said young ruminants provide an important opportunity to influence lifetime outcomes and that SMART GROWS brings the company's portfolio and technical expertise together around the specific challenges of early life.