Backed by science for them, healthier calves for you. Introducing Bio-Mos 2.

When a calf has a healthy gut from the very start, the resulting benefits can cascade into all stages of the production cycle. With a healthy gut, calves can better absorb the nutrients in colostrum, and as they transition to creep feed, even a calf stressed after weaning has the potential to achieve big gains and high performance. Maintaining a healthy gut is even more critical as calves are weaned and shift into backgrounding and the feedlot. When the stresses of the feedlot take over and stocker cattle must adjust to new challenges, continuously supporting the integrity of the gut and the health of the animal during high-risk situations will be key to maintaining good performance throughout the production cycle and maximizing feed efficiency in beef cattle.

Bio-Mos®, Alltech’s trademark technology, has been around for almost half a century and is one of the most widely used MOS technologies for calves on the market. Bio-Mos was developed through a proprietary process and is derived from a select strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. This product has been continuously studied since the early ’80s — but that’s not the end of the road. More than 40 years since it was first introduced, Alltech is launching the second generation of Bio-Mos, specifically designed to benefit backgrounding cattle throughout the production cycle.

Researchers took the compounds found in Bio-Mos and studied them more closely than ever before. By utilizing nutrigenomics research and partnering with universities across the country, they discovered a new component, which they referred to as the mannan-rich fraction (MRF). With its complex branched-mannan structure, research has shown that this MRF supplement provides various benefits after calves are weaned.

One study from the department of animal science at the University of Florida’s Range Cattle Research and Education Center (Hersom, 2015) sought to compare feed additive technologies for preconditioning weaned calves and their ability to promote average daily gains for cattle. The results of this study showed that calves fed this MRF supplement during the first 52 days of life had an average daily gain of 1.06 pounds per day, compared to the control calves, who had an average daily gain of 0.7 pounds per day (p=0.002).

Now launching as Bio-Mos 2, this highly researched technology can be fed at every stage of calf growth, including in starter feeds and grower rations, and has proven to be particularly effective when calves experience stress, such as during the receiving period and the stressful transition to the feedlot.

Bio-Mos 2 will launch at the 2020 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show, held February 5–7 in San Antonio, Texas. Visit booth #2059 to learn more — and don’t miss the MOS Myths Forum, featuring panelists Dr. Matthew Hersom, director of research at Clemson University; Dr. Twig Marston, who provides research and technical support at Hubbard Feeds; Jill Larson, M.S., who offers research and nutrition services at Ridley Block Operations; and Dr. Shelby Roberts, calf immunity specialist and research scientist at Alltech. 

Click here for more information on Bio-Mos 2.