ForFarmers is unveiling its refreshed VITA youngstock range at Dairy Tech, placing greater emphasis on gut health and rumen development as drivers of calf and heifer performance.

 The updated VITA range reflects ForFarmers' continued investment in youngstock nutrition at a time when dairy farmers are under pressure to improve efficiency, manage rearing costs and deliver long-term herd performance in challenging market conditions. 

 Central to the refresh is the inclusion of PrimeGut, a hydrolysed yeast designed to support gut integrity, microbial establishment and early rumen development during the most influential stages of a calf's life.

 "Early gut health and rumen development underpin everything that follows in a young animal's life," explains Ann Coombes, Youngstock Product Manager at ForFarmers. "If calves don't establish a healthy gut and functional rumen early on, it becomes much harder to maintain consistent growth, achieve smooth weaning and hit targets such as calving by 24 months."

Supporting calves from within

Calves are born functioning as monogastrics and must rapidly transition to becoming effective ruminants. This transition depends on early intake of solid feed, the establishment of beneficial microbes and a stable gut environment. Disruption during this phase can slow rumen development, reduce feed intake and create growth checks that persist long after weaning. 

"PrimeGut supports gut integrity, helps bind certain pathogens such as E. coli, and encourages the microbial activity needed for early fermentation," says Ann. "By stabilising the gut environment, it helps calves cope better with early-life challenges, maintain intakes and develop their rumen more effectively. 

"Unlike live yeast, PrimeGut is heat-stable and suitable for pelleted feeds, ensuring consistent inclusion and intake in calf starters."

 By supporting rumen development early on in life, the aim is to help calves transition through weaning with fewer setbacks and lay the foundations for improved feed efficiency and forage utilisation later in life.

 "Gut health and rumen development are the foundations of efficient, resilient youngstock," Ann concludes. "By focusing on these areas we're helping farmers give calves the best possible start and build herds that perform well into the future."

 To find out more about the refreshed VITA youngstock range, visit www.forfarmers.co.uk or speak to your local ForFarmers account manager.