Probiotics now sit front and centre in the dairy section of most supermarkets, and rightly so.
Known for improving digestion, boosting immunity, and even enhancing mental wellbeing in humans, the benefits are there for all to see.
So, are we about to see a similar trend sweep the livestock industry?
Calf-rearers know that good gut health is critical to raising healthy calves that grow up to be productive cows.
A well-functioning gastrointestinal tract is essential for nutrient absorption, leading to improvements in liveweight gain.
However, periods of stress such as disease and dietary transitions can impact gut health.
A diet supplemented with probiotics can promote a balanced intestinal microbiome and help overcome these challenges.
But when it comes to purchasing a probiotic for your calves, how can you sort the fact from fiction?
Firstly, it’s important to look at the active ingredients in each product, whether it has independent certification, and what scientific research the company has conducted, if any.
Terragen has recently launched its new dry probiotic powder, Probiotic for Ruminants, containing three strains of performance-enhancing Lactobacillus bacteria, scientifically proven to improve liveweight gains in calves.
A single gram of Terragen Probiotic for Ruminants delivers a minimum of 13 billion beneficial live microbes. To put that into perspective, if each bacteria were a grain of sand, that would be enough to cover more than 12 tennis courts.
Terragen is independently certified through FAMI-QS — a globally recognised scheme ensuring specialised feed supplement safety.
We test the number of microbes in every batch of product from factory to farm. This ensures that our products deliver the benefits that we say it will, and that you’re paying for.
Our probiotic is backed by scientific research, too.
Calves on Terragen Probiotic for Ruminants wean up to 10 days earlier, are on average eight per cent heavier at weaning, and have improved gut development for better digestion and nutrition — which is essential for the animal’s future productivity.
Perhaps most importantly, the product is easy-to-use, it has a two-year life span and is stored in the fridge in resealable sachets.
It is administered by being mixed into milk or milk replacer.
So, when it comes to choosing the probiotic to improve your herd’s health, don’t skip the science.
To find out more, visit Terragen.com.au, contact one of our local representatives, or drop into your trusted rural retailer.
By Dr Tom Bayes, Terragen’s Animal Health Lead.