by Howard Stanley, Centenary Agri’s Animal Nutritionist

Summer scour is a common digestive issue affecting calves during the summer grazing season. It often results in the rapid fermentation of lush, high-sugars grass, leading to suboptimal rumen function and digestive disturbances. If left unaddressed, it can cause poor growth, scouring and even mortality.

The 15% Sunner Calf Cube: A Balanced Solution
To combat these challenges, Centenary Agri developed the 15% Summer Calf Cube. This is specially formulated feed complements a grass-based diet by providing a balanced supply of energy, fibre and protein.

Key Ingredients:

  1. Fibre Sources: Soya hulls and beet pulp enhance fibre intake, promoting pulp enhance, promoting longer feed retention and improved digestion.
  2. Protein Sources: Soya bean meal and distillers ‘grains supply essential amino acids for optimal growth and development.
  3. Energy Sources: Barley and maize offer digestible starch and slow-releasing energy.
  4. Vitamins & Mineral: A comprehensive package, including chelated minerals and elevated levels of vitamin B, supports immunity and overall health.

Beneficial Additives for Digestive Health
The cube includes three proven additives to support gut health and rumen function:

  1. Rumbuff: A slow-release buffer that neutralises acids in the rumen, maintaining optimal pH levels and preventing acidosis.
  2. Actisaf Live Yeast: Enhances fibre digestion, stabilises rumen pH, and supports the development of a health rumen microbiome.
  3. Safmannan: A yeast cell wall product that binds harmful pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella, supporting gut integrity and immunity

The Importance of Rumen Health
A well-functioning rumen is crucial for nutrient absorption and overall performance.

Maintaining a neutral rumen pH prevents conditions like subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), which can impair digestion and reduce growth rates. Rumbuff’s buffering action ensures the rumen stays within the optimal pH range, supporting consistent feed intake and performance.

Practical Management Tips
To maximise the benefits of the 15% Summer Calf Cube:

  • Ensure calves consume plenty of ration in the rearing period and do not wean abruptly. Calves must have a well – developed robust rumen going out to grass.
  • This must be achieved first to ensure calves are the correct weight at weaning and have well over a kg of ration for a few weeks pre weaning.
  • Avoid spreading sulphur to grass that will be grazed by calves.
  • Adapt calves gradually, if possible, with an in-and-out system for a few days. Always offer dry roughage hay or straw.
  • Feeding them concentrate twice daily is very important and costs nothing extra.
  • Feed a cube that is correctly formulated to balance a grazing diet with Rumbuff Actisaf and Safmannan