Feeding biologically active nutritional supplements that have been proven to reduce scours and BRD in calves could help bolster disease prevention strategies on many UK dairy and beef units.
So says Rumenco Technical Services Manager Dr Alison Bond, who highlights the continuing impact of these two most damaging diseases whilst stressing the importance of a preventative approach.
“Scours is responsible for over half of all calf mortality in the first four weeks of life, and then as calves grow older it is respiratory diseases that become the greatest threat,” she says.
“The losses associated with mortality, treatment, veterinary intervention and the impact of reduced performance are considerable in both cases, so it will always be better if disease can be avoided in the first place.
“Managing to minimise the external risks is the first step, with general hygiene, optimum stocking densities, good building ventilation and the avoidance of unnecessary stress being paramount. It is then as important to build resilience on the inside, by ensuring calves are equipped with the best possible gut health to tackle any challenges, and there are proven and cost-effective feeding solutions to help achieve this.”
Rumenco now includes the feed supplement Celmanax in its Maxx Calf Health and Maxx Cattle Booster buckets, because of its proven ability to reduce the incidence and impact of scours and BRD. Produced from yeast culture and yeast cell wall extracts, Celmanax contains refined functional carbohydrates (RFCs), which are biologically active prebiotics and postbiotics that deliver a host of gut health benefits that give livestock the capabilities to fight off a broad range of challenges.
“Including a fermented yeast culture in rations is now quite well understood in terms of stabilising the rumen environment, improving dry matter and protein digestion, and boosting intakes,” explains Dr Bond. “However, with Celmanax, there are specific benefits in relation to the refined functional carbohydrates, with mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), for example, supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria, and mannose able to bind to pathogenic bacteria to minimise their impact. Other elements, like beta glucans, will support the immune system and minimise the effect of stress factors such as mycotoxins.”
Rumenco’s inclusion of Celmanax in key products is based on robust data from large scale trials, including a number conducted in North America.
“Extensive research has been carried out, looking at how feeding Celmanax impacts on the incidence of scours and BRD, and how this translates into key parameters like growth rates.
“In one large scale trial that monitored 160 calves from 3 days of age through to 8 weeks, groups receiving Celmanax (at 2g/head/day) showed a significantly reduced probability of shedding Salmonella and rotavirus. The treated calf groups were 2.5kg heavier at 50 days compared with the control group.
“In another study involving a total of 3,000 older cattle, the impact of feeding Celmanax (at 2g/head/day) on BRD was monitored over a period of 66 days. This trial showed a significant reduction in BRD cases, with 32.4% in the treatment group compared to 42.4% in the controls. This translated into improved growth rates over the period, with the cattle receiving Celmanax achieving 1.37kg/day compared with 1.25kg/day in the control groups. At the end of the feeding period, the treated cattle were on average 9.7kg heavier. When both the reduced treatment costs and the improved weight gains were taken into account, this trial demonstrated a 19.5:1 return on investment when feeding Celmanax.”
In addition to its inclusion in Maxx Calf Health and Maxx Cattle Booster buckets, Celmanax is also available as a 25kg Farm Pack, suitable for inclusion in total mixed rations or as a feed dressing.
Full details of the trial work carried out on Celmanax are available through Rumenco.
