Feeders/Preconditioners

CattlActive®: Support Strong Starts and Maximum Gains

Both preconditioning and feeder operations play critical roles in preparing calves for the next phase of their lives. Whether you’re helping calves transition after weaning or moving cattle through the finishing phase, every pound of gain — and every head of cattle kept healthy — matters to your bottom line.

 

While genetics, weather, and previous management are beyond your control, nutrition, handling, and stress mitigation are within your reach. One of the most effective ways to drive success at this stage is to focus on promoting a stable, healthy rumen environment — especially during the high-stress periods when cattle are most vulnerable.

 

CattlActive® helps preconditioners and feeders minimize stress-related digestive problems, support rumen health, and keep cattle on feed — helping you protect gains and reduce health setbacks.
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Why Rumen Health Matters in Preconditioning & Feeding

Stress is a constant in stocker and feeder cattle — and it can do more than suppress appetite. Stress-induced drops in rumen pH can trigger both sub-acute and acute acidosis, reduce nutrient absorption, damage gut integrity, and suppress immune function.

 

This not only makes cattle more vulnerable to disease (including respiratory and digestive illnesses), but it also reduces feed efficiency — cutting directly into your profit margins.

 

Maintaining a healthy rumen pH:

  • Supports better feed conversion and gain
  • Reduces the risk of acidosis and scours
  • Helps maintain appetite and hydration
  • Supports stronger immune response (better vaccine response & less morbidity)

CattlActive® is specifically designed to help neutralize excess acid and support healthy rumen function during the most critical stress points in preconditioning and finishing.
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Common Stress Points in Preconditioning & Feeder Operations

CattlActive® can help mitigate the impact of stress at these key stages:

  • Arrival at preconditioning facility or feedlot
  • Weaning and post-weaning transition
  • Processing (vaccination, castration, dehorning, tagging, branding)
  • Transportation
  • Commingling cattle from multiple sources
  • Weather stress (heat, cold, drought)
  • Dietary transitions (introduction to feed bunks, grain adaptation)
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Understanding Ruminal Acidosis

When cattle experience stress or dietary changes, the rumen can begin producing acid faster than it can neutralize or absorb it. If left unchecked, this leads to ruminal acidosis, which can be:

 

Acute Acidosis

  • Occurs when rumen pH stays dangerously low for an extended period
  • Often triggered by overconsumption of rapidly fermentable starches
  • Symptoms include: high heart/respiratory rate, reduced feed intake, poor rumination, scours, death

Sub-Acute Acidosis (SARA)

  • More common in feeder and preconditioning settings
  • Occurs when rumen pH dips below optimal levels for short periods
  • Symptoms include: lower feed efficiency, reduced body condition, dehydration, weight loss, liver abscesses, diarrhea, undigested grains in manure

Both forms of acidosis damage rumen integrity, reduce gains, and increase morbidity and mortality risk.
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Benefits of CattlActive® for Preconditioners & Feeders
  • Supports stable rumen pH to reduce the risk of acidosis
  • Aids in preventing scours and digestive upsets
  • Helps maintain appetite and feed intake during stress periods
  • Supports immune function and vaccine response
  • Encourages water consumption to prevent dehydration
  • Improves feed efficiency and helps maximize gain
  • Safe and effective for all stages — no withdrawal times
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How to Use CattlActive® in Your Program

Recommended Use

 

Preconditioners:

  • Upon arrival at the facility
  • During processing (vaccination, castration, dehorning, etc.)
  • During periods of feed or environmental stress

Feeders:

  • During arrival and transition to new diets
  • During high-grain adaptation phases
  • At any sign of off-feed events, scours, or acidosis risk
  • During heat or cold stress periods

Application:

  • Use CattlActive® Drench for rapid support at arrival and during processing
  • Use CattlActive® RA as a convenient water or feed additive for ongoing support

Consistent use during key stress points can help cattle stay on feed, improve performance, and reduce costly health setbacks.
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Trusted by Preconditioners and Feeders Across the Industry

 

Producers across the U.S. rely on CattlActive® to help cattle transition successfully through preconditioning and finishing — improving gain, feed efficiency, and profitability.

Ready to Improve Performance in Your Operation?

Use our find a dealer tool or fill out the form below to learn more about adding CattlActive® to your preconditioning or feeder program.

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