Especially during years that feature high commodity prices and drought-stressed crops, enzymes are a good option for helping your cattle utilize new and different feedstuffs. Enzymes help convert a less digestible component of feed (e.g., fiber) into a more easily absorbed form for animals to utilize.

Enzymes are essential for life and serve a wide range of functions that are especially important for the cattle-feeding industry. Enzymes play a key role in the animal’s digestive process. Although digestive enzymes are produced by the animal itself — or by the naturally occurring microbial organisms that live in the animal’s digestive system — producers have also used exogenous feed enzymes for improved nutrient utilization and performance.

Enzymes can benefit your herd by addressing problems like:

Not all enzymes are created equal, and it is important to look for products that offer reliability. Additionally, there are different types of enzymes, and the one you choose must match the substrate in the cattle’s diet and should target the complete diet. To get the most out of your cattle’s diet, look for valid nutrient values for feed formulation.