Bio-Mos® Pouch: Animal Gut Health and Performance Supplement

Studies show that approximately 50% of the calves that die before weaning will die in the first 2 days. It takes 2 to 3 weeks before the calf’s immune system is fully activated, so this early time is critical.

Bio-Mos from Alltech can be proactively and easily mixed in the feed of pregnant cows from 2 months prior to calving up until the youngest calves are 45 days old. You can be confident that nutrients will be transferred from mother to offspring, promoting gut and digestive integrity in the calf. Bio-Mos assists in defending immune system challenges and, in turn, providing an opportunity for vibrant health and performance.

Results from a 2005 University of Kentucky study showed higher levels of immunoglobulins in the colostrum of treated cows and enhanced serum samples in their calves. This indicated the possibility of a drop in both morbidity and mortality with Bio-Mos compared to control herds. Bio-Mos Milk Pak and Water Soluble can also easily be mixed into milk replacer for dairy or beef calves.

Young calves have about 5–10% more body fluid than adult cattle and can lose up to 20% of their body weight per day. Scours and diarrhea are concerning signs of dehydration and need to be corrected as soon as possible to restore electrolytes and the acid-base balance.

Ideally, Bio-Mos from Alltech is proactively mixed and fed to pregnant cows beginning 2 months before calving to ensure good nutrient transfer from mother to offspring — but if scours develop, Bio-Mos, Bio-Mos Milk Pak and Bio-Mos Water Soluble can help support gut health.

During this critical time in a newborn’s life, 70% of the calf’s immune system lives in the gut, making the animal vulnerable to infections, toxins and a depressed defense system.

Bio-Mos’ easy-to-use formulas can be added to the ration and/or mixed into milk replacer to promote good bacteria, assist in confronting the challenges of an inflamed gut and help with normalizing the function of the digestive systems of both beef and dairy calves.

When calves reach the age of 6 to 8 months, they become mature enough to consume the different grain-based diets they will receive in the feed yards. They should be weaned at this time to help maintain their mothers’ body condition.

Low-stress weaning practices are key to a calf’s health during this transitional stage in their lives.

Bio-Mos is a prebiotic that can contribute to managing the risk of stress by assisting gut microbial health and gut functions while also encouraging calves to eat properly.

Stress is known to be the greatest factor in bovine respiratory diseases, so it is crucial for the immune systems of these vulnerable calves to be protected during the move from their mothers’ care into the feedlot.

Bio-Mos feeds the gastrointestinal tract, promotes the growth of good bacteria and has the ability to support immune function. An undernourished or unstable intestinal tract leads to poor digestion, increased exposure to toxins and a depressed defense system, which can cause poor nutrient absorption and higher mortality among calves.

The powder form of Bio-Mos can easily be mixed into calf grower rations up to 2 weeks before weaning and continued for as long as 42 days after. Published trials have shown that calves receiving this diet did see a jump-start in performance. These results can bring peace of mind to producers, along with the potential for higher average daily gains and lower treatment costs, plus an opportunity for reduced morbidity and mortality rates.

It’s important that calves are efficient, productive and can reach their genetic potential. Conscientious animal welfare and sustainability practices are an important first step to higher weight gains, as well as increased efficiency and productivity.

Gut health is the key. Alltech’s Bio-Mos can help support it. Harmful bacteria are constantly trying to attach to the gut lining, blocking and damaging the villi and negatively impacting nutrient absorption. The resulting unstable intestinal tract leads to poor digestion, dangerous toxins and a depressed defense system, lowering performance and increasing antibiotic usage and mortality.

Top-dressing or mixing Bio-Mos into prepared feeds can help benefit the gut surface area, microvilli length and density, and it also contributes to a healthier small intestine. Digestive protection and nutrient absorption are highly possible as well.

By helping protect against challenges in the gut wall and small intestine, Bio-Mos contributes to lowering the chance of damage to the villi lining, assisting in flushing challenges out before they can take hold and cause inflammation.

Feed efficiency and animal well-being, performance and energy levels all have the potential to be supported with Bio-Mos. Healthy animals can experience improved feed intakes and higher average daily gains and conversion rates. Negatives, such as scours, shipping stress, respiratory disease, treatment costs and mortality, are reduced when the gut is healthy.

Bio-Mos from Alltech is an excellent tool to support livestock, offering the opportunity of more efficient weight gains and increased returns.

Weaning is the most stressful time in a calf’s life, and transitioning from their mother’s milk to a grain-based ration can be a challenge for both you and them. Stress is known to be the main cause of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in weaned calves, and if this diet change is not handled correctly, it will increase their stress levels and result in health and performance problems.

Using low-stress weaning practices is a good first step, but Bio-Mos can help make this transition even smoother. It can easily be fed at every stage of cattle growth, including in starter and grower rations.

Bio-Mos can be sprinkled on starter feeds before serving, so when calves investigate their new food source, Alltech’s prebiotic supplement will contribute to feeding their gastrointestinal tract. Its presence will magnify the opportunity for resistance to respiratory challenges, and its yeast-based ingredients will help promote the growth of good bacteria while also supporting immune functions.

Plus, a healthy gut will raise their spirits and encourage them to eat more.

A trial in Alberta, Canada, featuring 900 newly weaned calves showed that, when fed in a top-dressed transition mix at 20 g/head/day before and after weaning, Bio-Mos provided the potential for improved average daily gains and strengthened the possibility of reduced mortality and treatment rates.

For proactive and forward-thinking producers, Bio-Mos is an excellent insurance policy for good health and profitable returns.

As more restrictions on antibiotics are put in place and the desire to limit antibiotic resistance increases, fighting illness becomes more difficult and the need for alternatives to maintain health and performance grows.

Alltech has been busy developing superior nutritional solutions that help.

Bio-Mos is a unique product that bears noticing when it comes to gastrointestinal health and integrity. It has been on the market for more than 20 years and is backed by over 900 trials and 150 peer-reviewed publications.

Developed from a naturally occurring strain of yeast, Alltech created a prebiotic supplement in Bio-Mos to assist in maintaining gut health by promoting the growth of good bacteria and supporting immune function.

Bio-Mos has proven to be an effective solution for antibiotic-free diets with the ability to boost performance and aid in the defense of producers’ environmental impact. This is made possible by its ability to bolster the function of the digestive system and to help maximize overall health.

Adding an extra line of defense can make all the difference in a herd’s health and welfare, as well as our ability to produce beef without the need for antibiotics.

Encouraging a natural and sustainably based livestock industry is paramount to Alltech. That’s why we used a proprietary process to develop Bio-Mos, a unique, multi-species prebiotic supplement derived from a select strain of yeast.

Prebiotics, such as yeast cell wall products, are a safe and easy way to influence good gut health by promoting beneficial bacteria and supporting immune function. Alltech has maintained a market presence for more than 20 years and has completed hundreds of trials and studies, making us an authority in gastrointestinal health.

Bio-Mos’ ingredients make it effective in all phases of cattle growth and the lifecycle, from newborn calves to mature cows. By aiding digestive system functions, it helps maximize performance and offers the possibility of production gains for higher profits while also assisting in managing risks, such as respiratory diseases, morbidity and mortality.

Variations of Bio-Mos can be safely fed in milk, milk replacer, starter feeds and grower rations to promote safe and sustainable beef production.

Not all “Mos” products are the same, but rest assured that Alltech has an extensive amount of research to draw on. With our expertise, you can promote quality beef while capitalizing on good health, increasing the chances of improved weight gains and bolstering the welfare of your animals.