Calving time is much anticipated across the country. It’s a time of renewal; it’s time to see how those mating decisions panned out and to watch those cows turn into maternal miracles for another season. Preparing for calving season doesn’t just happen by getting some fresh bedding and making sure your calf pullers are nearby and clean, “just in case.” Progressive producers start getting their herd ready for calving at least 60 days in advance by making sure their cows in late gestation are getting the best nutrition possible.
A complete mineral package in the last 60 days prior to calving provides your cows the added nutrients they need for reproductive success including lactation. In addition to assisting the cow with her health and additional requirements, the calf is receiving pass-through nutrients from its mother, resulting in healthier calves with more vigor at birth.
VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® is a line of vitamin and mineral supplements formulated for beef cattle and designed to support quick repair of the reproductive tract and more energy for reproductive success when fed 60 days pre-calving through 60 days post-breeding. The Concept•Aid products contain high concentrations of Vitamin E and organic trace minerals. The Amaferm® advantage is a prebiotic designed to enhance digestibility by amplifying the nutrient supply for maximum performance. It is research-proven to increase intake, digestion and absorption.
Amaferm is a precision prebiotic that is research-proven to increase intake, digestion and absorption. Research has also shown that Amaferm increases the energy available to the animal resulting in more milk production as well as to the ability to initiate and maintain pregnancy and fertility.
By providing your cows with this premium nutrition 60 days pre-calving you are amping up essential nutrients needed for reproductive success at calving. Not only is calving and lactation a stressful time on the mama cow, but it is also the time when her nutrient requirements are the highest all year. Why not take a proactive approach to adding essential nutrients prior to when they are truly needed?
VitaFerm Concept•Aid contains 2.5 times the NRC for quicker impact and organic trace minerals for more stability and higher bioavailability. Furthermore, higher levels of Vitamin E allow for quicker reproductive tract repair post calving. Another benefit of VitaFerm Concept•Aid is cows that clean out more quickly.
“We’d been looking for a good mineral. We were having some issues with retained placentas, and heifers that weren’t cleaning as well as we had thought they should, so we thought we’d try a real good mineral. We feel that we’ve seen a difference there. We’ve been really happy with the VitaFerm Concept•Aid,” said Kevin Bennett, a Hereford breeder from Benton, Wisconsin.
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of feeding this quality mineral to cows prior to calving is the increased health and performance of their calves. Calves are typically healthier at birth, and due to increased milk from their healthier mamas, grow faster and more efficiently.
“We experienced scours, coccidiosis, weak calves, cows that wouldn’t breed, you don’t even know all the problems I had. One year we lost 35 calves. Since I switched to VitaFerm our cattle are just nicer. Nice hair coats on them, healthy and calves that are healthy when they are born and stay healthy. Think of the live calves I am taking to the sale barn. I am saving bull calves that I can sell for $3,800 to $4,000 and selling registered heifers for $1,200 to $2,000. Look at the calves that I’m saving and having the availability to sell. It’s just a no-brainer,” said Angus breeder Wade Wilson, Watford City, North Dakota.
Live calves, healthier calves, growthier calves. Cows that produce milk and clean their placentas. Those are things that make calving a happier time on cattle operations across the country. A good calving season starts with quality nutrition and comes down to performance that pays. That’s part of the Amaferm advantage that is found in VitaFerm Concept•Aid. Start the program 60 days pre-calving and experience the difference.
To find out more about the variety of VitaFerm Concept•Aid formulas or to take a short quiz to find the right one for you.
