DES MOINES, IOWA (RFD-TV) — As cattle move through weaning, transportation, and feedlot receiving, gut health remains a priority for producers.
Joe Knopp with Imogene Ingredients says Farmatan, a livestock feed supplement with more than 100 years of history, is being used to support cattle through stressful transitions.
In his interview with RFD-TV, Knopp discussed a recent 140-day feedlot trial at the University of Nebraska and shared examples of how producers are incorporating Farmatan into their cattle programs.
University of Nebraska Trial Shows Positive Results
The feedlot trial included 128 steers over 140 days. Knopp said cattle receiving Farmatan showed a 33-pound live-weight advantage and a 21-pound hot carcass weight advantage compared with the control group.
He also reported an average 30-percent improvement in the most severe liver abscesses and an additional $50 in profitability per head.
“You can see the numbers, but two of the biggest things we see were just right in the neighborhood of 30% improvement on the worst of the worst liver abscesses,” Knopp said.
He added that the reported profitability difference was another important result for cattle producers.
“An extra $50? Who wouldn’t want a $50 bill back in their pocket at the end of the day,” Knopp said.
A Long History of Gut Health Support
Knopp said Farmatan has been used for more than a century and is an organic product designed to support the gastrointestinal tract.
“We’ve seen where it does help go in and recoat that mucosal membrane in the gut,” Knopp said.
He described the product as another tool producers can consider when managing cattle health, particularly during stressful periods.
Dry Supplements and Liquid Drenches Offer Options
Farmatan is available as a dry supplement, but Knopp said the company has also developed liquid applications for cattle receiving programs.
The liquid formulation can be administered as a drench during processing. Knopp said the company has also incorporated other ingredients, including chelated minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and a Bacillus-based package, into its liquid products.
He said the goal is to provide producers with options that fit different feeding and management programs.
Customer Experience During Feedlot Receiving
Knopp shared an example from a customer working with approximately 500 calves gathered from multiple sources.
The program combined a 30-milliliter liquid drench at processing with Farmatan in the feed.
Knopp said that after three weeks, the producer had treated only three calves.
He compared the challenges of receiving cattle from multiple sources to managing a large group of children, noting that animals respond differently as they adjust to a new environment.
According to Knopp, the customer was pleased with the results and found the receiving process more manageable.
LEARN MORE: www.imogeneingredients.com/farmatanusa
