With a valuable crop of newborn calves on the way, many producers are thinking about strategies to protect their investment by optimizing the health and productivity of the cow herd. Although often overlooked, creating and maintaining a healthy environment in the cow’s gastrointestinal tract (GI) is key to her well-being and performance, as well as that of her calf. About 70% of the cow’s immune cells are in the GI tract.
Why Gut Health Before Calving Shapes Calf Survival
Prebiotics are a class of carbohydrates that are not digested by the cow but serve as a fuel source for beneficial microbes in the gut. SmartLic Supplements offers multiple products containing Bio-Mos from Alltech, a mannan-oligosaccharide compound derived from the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. It is a well-researched, effective product that has been proven to bind pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella, in the hindgut. Additional benefits reported in the scientific literature include improved small intestine integrity, increased surface area for nutrient absorption, and enhanced immunity.
In addition to the health and performance benefits observed in cows, there is also evidence that BioMos increases production of immunoglobulins (antibodies) that are transferred to the calf through colostrum. Consuming adequate amounts of high-quality colostrum within 12 hours of birth is essential for transferring antibodies from the cow to the calf and developing passive immunity, which provides initial protection until the calves develop an active immune system at several weeks of age.
Production of colostrum is initiated in the cow around 3 to 5 weeks prior to calving. The health and nutritional status of the cow during this time have a direct effect on the quality and quantity of colostrum, as well as the apparent efficiency of absorption of antibodies in the calf. Feeding SmartLic with BioMos to pregnant cows 45-60 days prior to calving through 30 days post-calving is a sound strategy to help increase gut health in the cow and reduce the risk of calf death losses and illness.
A pathogenic E. coli infection is one of the most significant bacterial causes of calf scours. It disrupts the intestinal barrier, creating a prime environment for secondary infections such as rotavirus. Providing BioMos directly to calves through a SmartLic “creep” tub is an additional way to help manage environmental and disease challenges. Reducing bacterial loads and improving gut health increases nutrient utilization and performance, helping to ensure that calves get off to their best start in life.
Some of the benefits of partnering
with Bio-Mos.
Supports healthy weight gain
Builds natural defenses
Strengthens nutrient transfer
