Using FerAppease to Reduce Stress Losses in Beef Cattle
Stressed cattle are a well听re颅cog颅苍颈蝉别诲听肠丑补濒颅lenge听in beef听breed颅颈苍驳听补苍诲听蹿颈苍颅ish颅颈苍驳听别苍迟别谤颅辫谤颈蝉别蝉,听谤别诲耻颅肠颈苍驳听辫谤辞颅ductiv颅颈迟测听补苍诲听肠辞尘颅prom颅ising听animal health. Stress is also听closely associated听with key diseases, particularly pneumonia, making its reduction and management a key priority for farmers.听
FerAppease听is a new pheromone-based spot-on available through farm vets, which can reduce the impact of stress on livestock health and production.听Working alongside a group of Northeast farmers, we听have been exploring how听FerAppease听can best be used on Scottish suckler and finishing units on potentially stressful situations听by means of听several small听independent farm trials.听听
In each trial,听we were interested in common management procedures听that听might lead to production loss due to听livestock听stress听including weaning, the arrival of store claves听purchased听from the west听coast听and听immediately听prior to transport to slaughter. The trials involved听animal听behavior听being听closely听observed听by farmers to听monitor听health and performance outcomes.听
- Weaning听-听Weaning stress on a breeding unit might reduce growth rate by 300g/day for 60 days, a cost of ~拢81/hd. 94 cattle in study total.听
- Store calf sales听-听Stress associated with sale, transport and mixing might reduce growth rate by 400g/day for 60 days, a cost of ~拢108/hd. 236 animals in study total.听
- Transport to slaughter听-听Transport stress might reduce听KillOut% of fat cattle by up to 2%, at a cost of ~拢85/hd. 108 cattle in study total.听
On each farm,听FerAppease听was applied听to听approximately half听of the animals that were under observation. We took care to ensure that all other management practices were the same, so that we could compare the outcomes of animals that had听FerAppease听and those that听didn鈥檛.听
The results are听summarised听in the table听below. There was a significant difference in performance in store calves that were treated听with听FerAppease听at the mart听immediately听after purchase听before听transport听home. In this听situation听the calves that听received听FerAppease听had a much lower听check-in听growth rate, leaving a clear cost-benefit.听听
In the transport to slaughter听trial,听there was also听a听trend听indicating听a cost benefit due to听FerAppease, though the difference was not statistically significant.听听
Interestingly, in the weaning trial neither the treated calves nor the control group had any growth rate check in the 60 days after weaning, and so there was no difference between the groups. In store calves treated at first handling on the finisher farm (so after the stress of transport, sale and mixing had passed) there was a similar growth听rate听loss in both treated and control听groups.听听
These trials provide听further听evidence that听FerAppease听can offset production losses associated with management stress, in the right situation. In cases where the product is applied before a significant stress, a reduced check in growth rate can be achieved. If the product is applied too late (e.g.听after store calves are already home) or where the stress is mild (e.g.听if the management change听doesn鈥檛听cause any production loss) then a measurable difference is less likely.听The听results are consistent with a recent scientific review of 18 international trials. The review found that blood cortisol, the stress hormone, is consistently and significantly reduced by using听FerAppease, but that does not always lead to a measurable production difference.听
For anyone interested in finding out more about听FerAppease听and whether it could help in your own system, discuss with your farm vet for best advice.听听
Tim Geraghty,听Vet Consultant,听Dunnydeer听Veterinary Group听听
Posted by SAC Consulting on 17/04/2026
