Cattle Nutrition Toolbox

Cattle performance is shaped by the small, everyday decisions made around feed quality, intake consistency and how animals are managed through stress points, such as weaning and movement between systems.

From mineral programs and calf starters to controlled-feeding equipment, each tool plays a role in how efficiently cattle convert nutrients into gain while maintaining health. As pasture conditions and feeding demands shift through the year, producers rely on products that help stabilize intake, support rumen function and keep herds moving steadily forward.

Cattle Nutrition

Cattle Plus

Used in feedlot rations, Cattle Plus is a supplement mixed into TMR or grain and forage diets to support digestive function and nutrient absorption in cattle.

Features: 

• Added to grain and forage rations in TMR or mixer wagon
• Intended to help improve feed utilization by addressing mucus buildup on intestinal villi
• Supports more consistent stools and digestive function
• May help reduce the incidence of scours by neutralizing intestinal pH levels
• Designed for use in feeder cattle and beef cows with specific feeding rates
• No withdrawal period; labeled as all-natural and drug-free

“I’ve been using Cattle Plus for 10 years. Give your cattle one year and you will see the results, from breeding to plate,” — Next Gen Nutrition Plus Customer

All Purpose Cattle Mineral

A free-choice loose mineral designed for cattle on pasture or forage-based diets, Purina All Purpose Cattle Mineral helps provide consistent access to essential nutrients that may be lacking in roughage.

Features: 

• Offered as a loose mineral for free-choice feeding in pasture, range or drylot systems
• Formulated to help supply key macro and trace minerals commonly limited in forage-based rations
• Designed for year-round use across classes of beef cattle, including cows, bulls and growing stock
• Supports normal reproductive function, immune health and overall herd maintenance
• Target intake of approximately four ounces per head per day when fed as directed
• Intended to complement grass, hay or other forage-based feeding programs rather than replace them

Cattle Mineral

NutreBeef Cattle mineral is a pasture-based mineral designed to help cattle make better use of forage by delivering consistent access to key nutrients that may be missing from grazing diets.

Features: 

• Free-choice loose mineral formulated for beef cattle on pasture
• Intended feeding rate of approximately four ounces per head per day
• Provides essential vitamins and minerals to help support growth, development and feed efficiency
• Designed to help address nutrient gaps commonly found in forage-based feeding systems
• Palatable formulation aimed at encouraging steady intake across the herd
• Can be incorporated into year-round mineral programs
• Intake can be managed through feeder placement, especially during the initial two to three weeks of use
• Recommended feeder space of about one linear foot per 100 head of cattle
• Best suited for pasture and range operations where forage is the primary nutrition source

“I have been feeding free choice now for over a year and have seen significant difference in the overall health and condition of our cattle ... The cattle take right to the mineral and the ingredients meet our needs for the area we are in,” — Rich, Nutrena Customer

Sure Champ Cattle

A daily-use supplement designed to support feed intake and digestive efficiency in cattle, Sure Champ Cattle is often used as part of show and performance feeding programs where consistent appetite and nutrient utilization matter.

Features: 

• Pelleted daily supplement formulated for beef and show cattle
• Includes AO-Biotics Amaferm, a prebiotic designed to support digestibility and nutrient use
• Intended to help maintain steady feed and water intake during normal and stress periods
• Provides added vitamins and trace minerals, including vitamins A, D and E
• Designed to be top-dressed or mixed into a ration, depending on feeding program
• Supports overall performance traits such as bloom, condition and feed efficiency
• Commonly used in show cattle and performance-focused feeding systems
• Recommended feeding rate of approximately one pound per head per day when top-dressed or included in ration
• Manufactured as a 50-pound bag format for feedroom or ration integration

Weaning Products

Calf Starter

Umbarger Calf Starter is a textured, grain-based starter feed designed to help calves transition from milk to dry feed while maintaining intake during early weaning and receiving periods.

Features: 

• High-energy calf starter formulated for dairy calves and growing young cattle
• Textured ration featuring flaked corn and oats to encourage early intake and palatability
• Designed to support the transition from milk or milk replacer to grain-based feeding programs
• Includes added protein, vitamins and minerals to support early growth and development
• Commonly used as a starter or receiving ration during stressful periods such as weaning or movement onto feed
• Formulated to promote consistent feed consumption during rumen development
• May include a coccidiostat (decoquinate) for control of coccidiosis in calves, depending on formulation
• Typically fed for at least 28 days before transitioning to a grower ration
• Intended to be fed alongside clean water to encourage starter intake and rumen function development

AlphaLine Start Calf Starter

AlphaLine Start Calf Starter is a textured early-life feed built to get calves consistently eating dry feed as they move off milk and into the weaning transition.

Features: 

• Textured calf starter designed for pre- and post-weaning transition diets
• Formulated with 22% crude protein to support early growth and development
• Includes Bovatec to aid in coccidiosis control and support improved rate of gain
• May include ClariFly to help reduce fly pressure in calf environments during feeding season
• Contains yeast culture and prebiotic components to support rumen development and gut health
• Balanced carbohydrate profile (starches, sugars and fiber) to encourage starter intake and rumen function
• Designed to promote steady feed consumption during the critical weaning period
• Intended for free-choice feeding as part of a structured calf development program
  

“The calf I grew with Poulin’s Alphaline Calf Starter... grew about 2.2 pounds per day of gain prior to weaning... she placed 3rd out of 26 at a high-profile Jersey Show in Pennsylvania,” — Wanda Emerich, Poulin Grain Customer

Calf Starter Mix

A textured starter ration built for calves just beginning to shift from milk dependence to solid feed, Leland Mills Calf Starter Mix is formulated to encourage steady nibbling behavior during one of the most sensitive stages of early development.

Features: 

• Textured calf starter feed designed for early weaning and transition phases
• Formulated to encourage consistent intake as calves begin consuming dry feed
• Includes highly digestible grains such as oats to support rumen development
• Provides plant-based protein sources to support steady early growth
• Designed to be gentle on developing digestive systems during diet transition
• Supports gradual rumen adaptation from liquid to solid nutrition
• Suitable for use in calf starter, transition or preconditioning programs
• Intended to promote feed curiosity and steady consumption during early life stages

Generations Calf Starter 22

Kalmbach Calf Starter is a complete textured calf starter feed designed for calves from birth through 12 weeks of age to support the early transition from milk to solid feed, while providing medicated protection against coccidiosis.

Features: 

• Complete textured calf starter designed for early-life feeding and weaning transition programs
• Formulated with 22% crude protein to support growth and frame development
• Balanced energy sources to encourage steady intake and rumen development
• Includes lasalocid for the control of coccidiosis in growing calves
• Contains diflubenzuron for additional parasite management support
• Fortified with essential vitamins and trace minerals to support immune function and development
• Textured form designed to enhance palatability and encourage early feed intake
• Intended for use alongside clean, fresh water to support rumen development and digestion

Feeding Systems & Tools

Juno

The Lely Juno is a self-propelled feed pushing robot designed to maintain consistent feed availability along the bunk, helping support intake and rumen function in dairy and beef cattle operations.

Features: 

• Autonomous feed pusher that travels along the feed fence to push feed closer to cattle
• Designed to increase feeding frequency by keeping feed within easy reach throughout the day
• Helps support more consistent dry matter intake and rumen health through improved feed access
• Operates automatically on programmed routes with adjustable schedules based on barn needs
• Equipped with sensors for navigation, obstacle detection and safe operation in barn environments
• Battery-powered with an automatic charging station for continuous daily operation
• Controlled and monitored through a mobile app interface for route planning and adjustments
• Available with optional add-ons such as LED lighting, safety bumpers and flexible navigation packages
• Designed for use in dairy and beef barns to reduce manual feed-pushing labor and fuel use

8000HD

The Advantage Feeders 8000HD is a mobile, controlled-intake grain feeder built to manage how cattle consume concentrates in the field by spacing out access to feed over time.

Features: 

• Heavy-duty mobile grain feeder designed for cattle in pasture and backgrounding systems
• Controlled-intake design helps regulate grain consumption and reduce slug feeding
• Built to encourage smaller, more frequent meals to support rumen stability
• Large-capacity unit suited for groups of cattle in stocker or finishing programs
• Adjustable intake settings to match ration type, cattle size and production goals
• Weather-protected feed chamber helps reduce spoilage and exposure to the elements
• Designed for towable, field-based use to allow relocation between paddocks
• Supports more consistent feed efficiency by limiting overconsumption events
• Commonly used in grazing and feedlot-adjacent systems where grain supplementation is managed on pasture

800 Bushel Self Feeder

The Lakeland 800 Bushel Self Feeder is a stationary bulk grain system designed to store and meter feed for cattle over extended periods with limited daily management.

Features: 

• 800-bushel capacity designed for large cattle feeding operations
• Built from 14-gauge sheet metal for field durability and long-term use
• Full-length top lid with ground-level access handle for easier filling and inspection
• 20-inch eaves designed to help shield feed from wind and precipitation
• Adjustable feed chutes to help control flow rate and reduce waste
• V-bottom interior design to promote consistent grain movement toward outlets
• Elevated skid base for stability and ground clearance in pasture or yard settings
• Full-length catwalk (on applicable configurations) to assist with maintenance access
• Intended for use in beef cattle systems where bulk grain storage and self-feeding are utilized

UTV-15

Designed to ride in a utility vehicle and deliver grain directly into the pasture, the Eze Feeder UTV system brings controlled feed distribution to mobile cattle feeding setups.

Features: 

• UTV-mounted portable feeder designed for pasture and range feeding applications
• 15-bushel (approximately 700-pound) capacity for grain, pellets and similar dry feeds
• 12-volt electric auger system with overload protection for controlled feed discharge
• Four-inch auger discharge designed for consistent and efficient feed delivery
• Folding auger spout to reduce transport width and improve maneuverability
• Bottom clean-out design to help minimize residue and simplify maintenance
• Low-profile lid for easier loading from bags, bins or bulk sources
• Integrated tie-down points for secure transport in UTV beds
• Epoxy-coated construction to help resist corrosion and handle outdoor use
• Compatible with multiple feed types including grain, pellets, cubes and screenings