Quality Starter Feeds Help Calves Overcome Stresses of Weaning
Aug 17, 2020
Tara Jo Bina
Countryside Feed Sales & Nutrition Professional
We all know how demanding and hectic the weaning stage is for calves. It’s usually when they’re most vulnerable, facing many stressors with immune systems that aren’t fully developed. That’s why it’s important to select a quality starter feed that fits your management style and meets your performance goals.
Starting beef calves on quality feed helps equip their immune system to better handle the stresses of weaning, improving their ability to stay healthy during the process. A palatable starter feed helps:
From the quality bulk starter feeds we produce at our Hillsboro location, to the full line of reliable Purina® starters we carry, Countryside Feed offers a complete line of starter feeds and supplements to meet your performance goals, fit your management style and complement your existing forage supply.
PURINA® RX3® IMMUNE SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY
In addition to providing high-quality nutrition, nearly all of the starter feeds we offer* can be supplied with Purina® RX3® Immune Support Technology, which primes a calf’s immune system so it can better recognize health challenges and bounce back quickly.
Thanks to its precise combination of prebiotics, probiotics and plant extracts, this first-of-its-kind technology works by preparing calves’ natural defense for an improved response to stress and respiratory challenges.
The value of RX3® Immune Support Technology is supported by research that stems back to 2015, including seven studies and third-party research partners, including USDA-ARS, the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University. This research demonstrates calves fed Purina® starters with RX3® Immune Support Technology:
The data from a six-study pooled analysis of calves exposed to a respiratory challenge also suggests that those that received starter feeds with RX3® Immune Support Technology had reduced morbidity and improved performance compared with the control animals. In the event of a respiratory challenge, these calves recognized the challenge 2 days sooner, responded to medical intervention and recovered by gaining more weight during the 30-day receiving period.
We’re proud to offer the following quality starter feed products with Purina® RX3® Immune Support Technology at Countryside Feed:
If you have questions about which starter feed options are the best for your operation, please reach out to your trusted Countryside Feed nutritionist. We have you covered! And if you’d like to learn about the ways you can help reduce the stresses faced by weaning cattle, click here.
*RX3® Immune Support Technology is not available in any Purina® feeder tubs.
Countryside Feed Sales & Nutrition Professional
We all know how demanding and hectic the weaning stage is for calves. It’s usually when they’re most vulnerable, facing many stressors with immune systems that aren’t fully developed. That’s why it’s important to select a quality starter feed that fits your management style and meets your performance goals.
Starting beef calves on quality feed helps equip their immune system to better handle the stresses of weaning, improving their ability to stay healthy during the process. A palatable starter feed helps:
- Drive calves to start and continue feeding
- Maintain energy and protein reserves
- Build rumen microbe populations
- Maintain immune status for healthy calves
- Support optimal performance
From the quality bulk starter feeds we produce at our Hillsboro location, to the full line of reliable Purina® starters we carry, Countryside Feed offers a complete line of starter feeds and supplements to meet your performance goals, fit your management style and complement your existing forage supply.
PURINA® RX3® IMMUNE SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY
In addition to providing high-quality nutrition, nearly all of the starter feeds we offer* can be supplied with Purina® RX3® Immune Support Technology, which primes a calf’s immune system so it can better recognize health challenges and bounce back quickly.
Thanks to its precise combination of prebiotics, probiotics and plant extracts, this first-of-its-kind technology works by preparing calves’ natural defense for an improved response to stress and respiratory challenges.
The value of RX3® Immune Support Technology is supported by research that stems back to 2015, including seven studies and third-party research partners, including USDA-ARS, the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University. This research demonstrates calves fed Purina® starters with RX3® Immune Support Technology:
- Gained an average of 6 pounds more than the control group within a 30-day period
- Were more uniform because fewer calves were poor performers
- Achieved a more consistent average daily gain compared to control calves
The data from a six-study pooled analysis of calves exposed to a respiratory challenge also suggests that those that received starter feeds with RX3® Immune Support Technology had reduced morbidity and improved performance compared with the control animals. In the event of a respiratory challenge, these calves recognized the challenge 2 days sooner, responded to medical intervention and recovered by gaining more weight during the 30-day receiving period.
We’re proud to offer the following quality starter feed products with Purina® RX3® Immune Support Technology at Countryside Feed:
- Countryside Feed bulk starter feeds or grain directly from your farm mixed with Purina® Stress Care® 5 supplement pellets
- Purina® Precon® complete feed
- Purina® Accuration® Starter complete feed
If you have questions about which starter feed options are the best for your operation, please reach out to your trusted Countryside Feed nutritionist. We have you covered! And if you’d like to learn about the ways you can help reduce the stresses faced by weaning cattle, click here.
*RX3® Immune Support Technology is not available in any Purina® feeder tubs.