Feed Additives: Targeted Support for Cow and Calf in the Barn

Feed Additives: Support Through the Critical Phases

There are times in the year when the normal ration reaches its limits. Around calving, at the start of lactation and in the first days of a calf's life, demand for individual nutrients rises steeply. Here you will find supplementary feeds such as boluses, pastes and liquid products with which you support supply through exactly those phases.

Minerals around calving and lactation

As milk production sets in, the body draws a great deal of calcium from the blood. Phosphorus is also called on more heavily during this phase. Boluses release their active ingredients over a period after administration, while liquid products are quick to give and easy to combine with the feed. Timing is what matters, which is why many farms plan the dose firmly into their routine around calving. These products are supplementary feeds and not medicines. They replace neither a balanced ration nor veterinary treatment.

A good start in life for the calf

A calf comes into the world without immune protection of its own and depends on first milk. Where that is in short supply or the quality is uncertain, colostrum supplements come into play. Energy products support weak calves during the first hours, and pastes with lactic acid bacteria and binding agents are widely used to support the gut flora. Follow the manufacturer's dosing instructions and keep your dosing equipment clean. If a calf scours or shows clear signs of illness, it belongs in veterinary care.

Frequently asked questions

Are feed additives medicines?
No. They are supplementary feeds that support the supply of nutrients. They do not replace veterinary treatment.

When is a calcium bolus used?
Usually in connection with calving, when calcium demand jumps. The timing and the number of doses are set by the manufacturer.

What is a colostrum supplement for?
For calves that receive too little first milk or milk of uncertain quality. It tops up the first supply without fully replacing the dam's own milk.