If you are raising cattle, you know that digestive health and immune function are key to having a healthy herd. Keeping the rumen functioning properly is essential, and many different factors can affect its performance. When your cattle show signs of less-than-optimal rumen health or are under stress, adding direct-fed microbials (DFMs) to their routine can make a big difference.
How Do DFMs Work?
DFMs are special blends of live, beneficial microbes, also called probiotic bacteria. They help support cattle’s digestive health, as well as immune function, growth and energy.
DFMs work by counteracting the bad microbes that can develop in the gut during times of stress or illness. These harmful microorganisms can cause problems like infection, weight loss and digestive issues.
The good bacteria in DFMs can fight off the bad bacteria without the use of antibiotics. Calves can also benefit from DFMs, which can reduce calf scours and promote immune function and rumen development as they grow.
What Do DFMs Contain?
At Bio-Vet, we are experts in developing microbial formulations for cattle and calves that help them maintain or return to peak health. Just like certain supplements provide multiple benefits for your own health, DFMs that include an extra boost of nutritional value offer many advantages. That’s why we developed our RumenAider® Cattle Capsules and Gener-Cap™ Calf Capsules to ensure animals get not only beneficial rumen microbes but also the nutrition they need for their overall health and well-being.
Capsule-in-a-Capsule™ Technology
Bio-Vet RumenAider® products use Capsule-In-a-Capsule™ technology for optimum microbial stability and the most benefits for your cattle. Capsule-In-A-Capsule™ technology works by separating rumen microbes in the inner capsule from nutritional ingredients in the outer capsule to protect microbials from degradation during storage.
The outer capsule, which dissolves in minutes after administration, contains highly available trace minerals and vitamins, including:
- Kelp
- Niacin
- Vitamins A, D3, E, B complex and C
The inner capsule contains live microbes (yeast, Propionibacterium, intestinal bacteria) that populate the rumen and intestinal tract, balancing the gut microbiome.
When Should You Give Your Cattle DFMs?
Rumen microbials for cattle can be beneficial any time animals are off feed or under stress. DFMs can positively modify the rumen fermentation process. This can lead to the production of more beneficial microbes, allowing them to grow and thrive while warding off harmful microbes. This is particularly helpful to cattle during times of stress.
If you notice any of your cattle have a sluggish appetite, adding DFMs to their diet can help them to start eating normally again. You can also give DFMs in conjunction with veterinary therapy.
After Calving
Whether you have beef or dairy cattle, your cows experience significant stress when calving. This can affect not only their overall health but also dairy production.
Cow RumenAider® capsules contain microbes and nutrients that stabilize the microbiome in the rumen, improving gut health, energy levels, milk production, body weight and more. DFMs can also stimulate immune function and help prevent illness in cows as they recover after calving.
In addition, niacin provides support for the liver, while kelp and vitamin E promote cell repair and reproductive function.
After Birth
Young calves don’t yet have fully developed rumen functionality. DFMs specially formulated for young animals, such as Bio-Vet Gener-Cap™ Calf Capsules, help fight off harmful bacteria. This boosts immune function and helps prevent serious illnesses in your calves, such as calf scours, which can be fatal.
Before and After Shipping
Another challenging situation for cattle is transport. Factors like unfamiliar environments, rough handling and extreme temperatures can cause high stress levels and lead to negative effects for the rumen and digestive system.
Administering DFMs, such as Bio-Vet RumenAider® before and after shipping, can give your animals the boost they need to better manage this stress. As a result, they’ll have fewer digestive problems or other health issues that can stem from shipping and receiving.
How to Administer DFMs
You can give your cattle DFMs via different methods. For Bio-Vet RumenAider® and Gener-Cap™ Calf Capsules, administer using a standard cattle applicator.
Supporting Your Cattle’s Digestive Health
Whether you have calving or transport in the near future or your animals are showing signs of stress or illness, Bio-Vet has products that can help. Our specially formulated microbial/nutritional capsules for cattle provide the beneficial microbes and nutritional components needed to help livestock develop healthy gut functions and improve their overall health and productivity.
Interested in DFMs?
