by Wyatt Bechtel, Filament

The beef industry is beaming with optimism as cattle markets continue to climb, creating a prime opportunity to capture value. USDA projects cattle prices to rise into 2024 as fed-cattle supplies remain tight¹.

During strong markets, calves are sometimes taken straight off the cows and “weaned on the truck” to be marketed as soon as possible. But you’re likely leaving money on the table by not giving those calves a healthy start with weaning fueled by quality nutrition.

“Now’s a good time to utilize a thorough weaning program, because you can add a lot of value to your calves,” says Ron Scott, director of beef technical innovation with Purina Animal Nutrition.

Buyers are willing to pay a premium for calves that have been preconditioned. Data from Superior Livestock Auction sales in 2022 show a premium of $8.64 per hundredweight (cwt.) to $18.67 per cwt. for calves that were weaned for at least 45 days².

A vital way to ensure success during weaning is to provide high-quality nutrition.

Reduced stress

During the stress of weaning, calves need a balanced nutrition program to help their immune system keep up.

“If calves don’t get some feed into them, their body will get behind on fighting stress, and health challenges can occur,” Scott says.

To help address the challenges of supporting a healthy immune system, while reducing stress at weaning, Purina Animal Nutrition researched, developed and launched a proprietary additive known as RX3^® Immune Support Technology in 2019. The unique, non-medicated feed additive (found exclusively in Purina starter feeds³) contains a combination of very specific prebiotics, probiotics and plant extracts that helps address common, costly calf health challenges head-on.

Optimized performance

Feeding high-quality nutrition during weaning can also optimize calf performance. That means more than just providing a diet balanced for protein, energy and roughage, says Scott. “There are also vitamins and minerals necessary to deal with stress to help keep calves performing.”

In multiple third-party research studies, the addition of the RX3 product in starter feeds resulted in calves that:^4,5

• had a higher average daily gain (ADG);
• had less variation in ADG compared to control calves; and
• had improved feed-to-gain ratio, resulting in better utilization of feedstuffs.

“Calves ate more feed and gained more weight than you would expect, so we have this improvement in feed conversion,” Scott says. “A combination of more time at the bunk equals less stress and greater feed intake. Because of that combination, the calves have gained weight more efficiently.”

Immunity with the three R’s

Priming calves’ immune systems is key to ensuring they have optimized health during and after weaning.

RX3 Immune Support Technology gets its name from its ability to help calves’ immune systems:

• recognize sooner
• respond more appropriately,
• return to optimal health more quickly.

“When the immune system is primed, the body can understand when a health challenge is occurring,” Scott says. “You want calves to be able to respond quickly so they can fight off disease.”

The combination of healthy calves with sound nutrition and management allows calves to express their full genetic potential. Capitalize on the strong cattle market by giving your calves the best start possible.

Editor’s note: This article is provided by Purina Animal Nutrition. Visit purinamills.com to learn more.

¹USDA Economic Research Service. Aug. 17, 2023. Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook: August 2023.

²Raper K. and Peel D. 2023. Strong Premiums for Oklahoma Quality Beef Network Cattle in 2022. Cow-Calf Corner. March 6, 2023.

³RX3^® Immune Support Technology^® is not a medication, so no Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) is required. Medicated Purina starter complete and supplement feeds are still available and require a VFD.

⁴Idowu M., Taiwo G., Cervantes A., Bowdridge S. and Ogunade I. 2022. Effects of a multicomponent microbial feed additive containing prebiotics and probiotics on health, immune status, metabolism and performance of newly weaned beef steers during a 35-d receiving period. West Virginia University. American Society of Animal Science.

⁵Summary of Purina studies CG131, CG153, CG165 CG171 and PMI studies at University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University.