Help Prime Calves for Optimal Performance
Help prepare calves for the most stressful event of their life with immune system support.
The excitement surrounding this year’s projected calf prices is a good reminder of the value of healthy calves. To capitalize on the strong cattle market, your calves need to be at the top of their game. Don’t let a lack of preparation impact your calves’ future performance or potentially eat into your profit.
A long-time leading profit stealer in beef production has been respiratory challenges, which costs the beef industry more than $1 billion annually.[1] These challenges can be amplified by risk factors like stress and extreme weather and have shown long-term negative effects on cattle performance.
Despite improvements in vaccines, management practices and genetics, respiratory challenges still impact one in five calves yearly.[1] With the high cost of inputs and labor, ensuring that health challenges don’t negatively impact your investment in calves is crucial.
The benefits of properly priming a calf’s immune system toward performance can be impactful. The combination of healthy calves with sound nutrition and management allows calves to express their full genetic potential.
Foundation for immunity
Setting calves up for optimal performance starts with a quality nutrition program that can prime their immune response. During weaning, calves’ immune systems are still developing so they can address various health challenges. It’s critical to support calves’ immune systems during this time of high stress.
Providing calves with a quality, palatable starter feed helps get calves eating quickly at weaning. The immune system strengthens when calves eat and meet their nutritional needs, giving them a better chance of staying healthy through weaning.
A high-quality nutrition program can also help support vaccine and dewormer investments. Proper nutrition provides the energy needed to support ideal immune function. Higher planes of nutrition can also help calves to maintain growth, even during times of stress.
Proprietary technology
To help address the challenges of supporting a healthy immune system at weaning, Purina Animal Nutrition researched, developed and launched a proprietary additive known as RX3® Immune Support Technology in 2019. RX3® Immune Support Technology is a unique, non-medicated feed additive found exclusively in Purina® starter feeds.[2] The feed additive contains a powerful combination of very specific prebiotics, probiotics and plant extracts that help address common, costly calf health challenges head-on.
RX3® Immune Support Technology gets its name from its groundbreaking ability to help calves’ immune system:
- Recognize sooner
- Respond more appropriately
- Return to optimal health more quickly
Innovation backed by research
Purina is redefining the role of nutrition in calf health. Now more than ever, it is important to take advantage of innovative products and management solutions to help ensure optimal performance for your bottom-line potential.
RX3® Immune Support Technology is included in all Purina® Precon® and Purina® Accuration® starter complete feeds and Purina® Stress Care® 5 supplement feeds. The precise blend of ingredients in RX3® Immune Support Technology supports optimal immune function to help a calf recognize, respond and return to optimal health more quickly.
Take advantage of strong cattle prices by giving your calves the best start possible.
Contact your local Purina representative or go to purinamills.com/rx3 to learn more.
[1] Brooks KR, Raper KC, Ward CE, Holland BP, Krehbiel CR, Step DL. Economic effects of bovine respiratory disease on feedlot cattle during backgrounding and finishing phases. Stillwater (OK): Oklahoma State University. Report No.: P-1027.
[2] RX3® 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.
