Weaning a calf doesn’t just take away milk, it removes all things familiar: mom, home pasture, routine, etc. It is a major shift in a calf’s life. That’s why the period right after weaning, before calves are ready for finishing, (known as the backgrounding phase), is one of the most vulnerable stretches of a young animal’s life. However with the right nutritional support, you can help your calves hold onto health and gains. Let’s see how natural mineral supplementation supports background calves through the stress with fewer setbacks and less loss.
After weaning, background calves are still growing fast, but now they’re now doing it under a lot more pressure. New feed programs, new social groups, and transport to unfamiliar surroundings all pile on the stress. This stress has a way of showing up in all the worst places, such as:
Poor mineral balance and deficiencies are usually the underlying thread uniting these health problems.
Calves don’t need synthetic fixes with a bunch of additives and fillers. They need whole and balanced nutrition that works with their bodies. Background calves should be offered a higher salt to mineral ratio that tastes more palatable so they eat what they need without filling up on byproducts.
To prevent deficiencies, calves need 11 different macro and micro minerals: magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, selenium, manganese, sulfur, zinc, and copper.
Note: Mineral programs are more efficient when paired with a rumen buffer like sodium bentonite. Redmond Conditioner is an all natural volcanic rumen supplement that keeps your calves' guts productive so they absorb everything they need.
Minerals (especially phosphorus, sulfur, and zinc) and rumen supplementation supports calf metabolism so they keep a healthier appetite and can gain weight and bounce back from stress dips.
Mineral-deficient calves are magnets for illness, especially respiratory diseases (one of the top causes of loss in backgrounding yards). Trace minerals like selenium, zinc, and copper give their immune systems the micronutrient tools to fight back naturally.
Preventable losses are hard on animals and ranchers alike. A solid mineral program doesn’t just support the survivors, it can reduce how many calves you lose in the first place.
A farm in Cherokee, Oklahoma tested the power of a balanced mineral program + rumen buffer on background calf health. They used 2 groups of background calves, 1 on normal feed, and the other on normal feed + Redmond SR 50 (a 50/50 blend of Redmond salt and volcanic conditioner).
The calves in the Redmond group had lower death losses, sick rates, and weight loss during the background phase.
Click to read the full study and see how Redmond reduced background calf losses.
Weaning and backgrounding are hard on calves, but with Redmond you can give your young stock a solid foundation for healthy growth. Our simplified mineral program takes the guesswork out of animal health with unrefined sea and volcanic minerals harvested directly from the earth in central Utah. Since the 1950s, farmers and ranchers all across North America are happy to report how much better their animals do on Redmond:
“I am very pleased with Redmond minerals and the overall look of my cattle since starting. They have bloomed while not over consuming. Great product!” -Don K.
“Redmond salt has been nothing but great to use for our cattle…our cattle have looked so good! They seem healthier and happier! It feels good to give them something that they enjoy and helps their health drastically! Love it and tell everyone to use it!” - Melissa R.
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