Benefits of a program for receiving cattle in feedlots
The first 14-28 days upon feedlot arrival are critical for calf development and set the performance for the remainder of the feeding period. When beef calves arrive at the feedlot, producers need to minimise stress, protect health, and get calves off to a strong start.

Beef calves arriving at feedlots or backgrounding yards often experience high stress from transportation, weaning, commingling, and environmental changes. Stress in feedlot cattle can compromise immune function, reduce feed intake, and increase susceptibility to disease. Stress in combination with mixing calves from different sources often causes bovine respiratory disease the leading cause of morbidity and mortality during the receiving phase of cattle in feedlots8. An effective receiving program is essential to ensure a smooth transition into the feedlot and to promote health and performance of beef calves in a feedlot operation.

Benefits of a program for finishing cattle in feedlots
A finishing program for beef cattle in feedlots enables efficient conversion of feed to high-quality carcass weight, consistent throughput year-round, and controlled product uniformity 9,10. However, achieving optimal results requires more than simply feeding high-grain rations for beef cattle. Successful programs for finishing beef cattle in feedlots balance nutrition, health, welfare, and management. This minimizes disease and metabolic problems during the finishing phase, maximizes feed conversion, and delivers desired carcass traits of beef cattle.

Because feedlot finishing is designed for rapid growth, feedlot cattle are fed high-energy diets with high-starch levels, which increases the risk of metabolic disorders of beef cattle such as:

• Ruminal acidosis
• Bloat
• Liver abscesses
• Heat stress
• Coccidiosis
• Reduced feed efficiency
• Bovine respiratory disease
  
  Feed additives for beef cattle can contribute to solving these predictable physiological challenges8. Scientific and economic evidence shows that feed additives are one of the highest-return investments in finishing rations for beef cattle11.

Two studies in receiving cattle 5,6 were conducted at South Dakota State University (SDSU) and Oklahoma State University (OSU). Two studies in finishing cattle 7,8 were conducted at SDSU and Bos Technica Research Services in Oklahoma (BT).


Gain to feed rate in the 4 trials carried out with Fytera Advance in beef cattle is presented in Figure 2. A pooled analysis9,10,11 from these 4 studies showed that Fytera Advance tends to improve average daily gain by 1.33% and significantly improves feed efficiency by 2.24%.

Livestock production continues to evolve within an increasingly complex landscape. High-energy diets for beef cattle increase the risk of metabolic disorders. Feed additives for beef cattle can contribute to solving these metabolic disorders8. Scientific and economic evidence shows that feed additives are one of the highest-return investments in finishing rations for beef cattle11.

Phytotechnology offers a science-based, forward-looking approach that can help producers to make their feedlot operations more efficient. Fytera Advance is a PhytoComplex solution that can help producers to meet sustainability goals and deal with regulatory constraints, consumer expectations and animal welfare concerns, while maintaining profitability. Trials5,6,7,8 have shown that Fytera Advance can improve gain to feed ratio of feedlot cattle.

1. Wilson, B.K, Owen, N. and J. S. Heldt (2024). Evaluation of a phytogenic feed additive containing garlic, clove, and capsicum oleoresin on the health and performance of newly received, high-risk calves., J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 102, Suppl. S3: 333.

2. Ribeiro, T.L.M, Smith, Z.K, Wall, E.H, Francis, F.L, Grimes Francis, G, Ross, C, Heldt, J. Rusche, W.C. and J. Heldt (2024) Evaluation of a phytogenic blend on post-weaning growth performance, health, and sera metabolite responses during the initial 56 d feedlot receiving period in newly weaned steers. J. Anim. Sci Vol. 102, Suppl. S2, 231.

3. Ribeiro, T.L.M, Francis, B.G, Smith, Z.K, Francis, F.L, Ross, C, Heldt, J, Rusche, W.C. and E. H. Wall (2024). Evaluation of a phytogenic blend on growth performance, health, carcass traits, and efficiency of dietary net energy utilization in finishing beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 102, Suppl S2: 205.

4. Ribeiro, T.L.M, Grimes Francis, R.B, DeHaan, E.R, Ross, C.R, Delver, J.D, Francis, F.L, Heldt, J.S, Wall, E.H, Rusche, W.R. and Z. K. Smith (2025). Influence of long-term supplementation of a formulated botanical blend on growth performance and carcass traits in feedlot steers. Anim Biosci Vol. 38, No. 1:77-85 January 2025. https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.24.0125.

5. Ribeiro, T.L.M, Smith, Z.K, Rusche, W.C, Heldt, J, Wall, E.H, Wilson, B.K, Davis, S.S, and N. Owen (2025). Effects of a formulated botanical blend on growth performance in feedlot cattle: a pooled analysis, ASAS Midwest Conference, March 9-12, Omaha, Nebraska.

6. Smith, Z.K, Rusche, W.C, Heldt, J.S, Wall, E.H, Wilson, B.K, Davis, S.S. and N. Owen (2025) Effects of a formulated botanical blend on growth performance in feedlot cattle: a pooled analysis. ASAS-CSAS Annual Meeting, July 6-10, 2025, Hollywood, Florida, USA.

7. Ribeiro, T.L.M, Heldt, J.S, Wall, E.H, Wilson, B.K, Owen, N, Davis, S, Rusche, W.C, Podversich, F. and Z. K. Smith (2025). Effects of a formulated botanical blend on growth performance and carcass characteristics in feedlot cattle: a pooled analysis, Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A — Animal Science, DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2025.2577227.

8. Ribeiro, G, Johnson, J. and T. McAllister (2025). Rethinking transition diets for finishing cattle. Canadian Cattleman, April 15, 2025, www.canadiancattlemen.ca/livestock/beef-cattle/rethinking-transition-diets-for-finishing-cattle.

9. Wagner, J.J, Archibeque, S.L. and D.M. Feuz (2014). The modern feedlot for finishing cattle, Annu. Rev. Anim. Biosci. Feb 2: 535-54. doi: 10.1146/annurev-animal-022513-114239.

10. White, R.R, and J.L. Capper (2021). An environmental, economic, and social assessment of improving cattle finishing weight or average daily gain within U.S. beef production. J Anim Sci. 12:5801-12. doi: 10.2527/jas.2013-6632.

11. Swanson, K.C, Relling, A.E. and A. DiCostanzo (203). NCCC308: Nutrition and Management of Feedlot Cattle to Optimize Performance, Carcass Value, and Environmental Compatibility – Feature Collection - Nutrition and Management of Finishing Cattle, J. Anim. Sci: 101, skad003, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad003.

12. Liu, Y, Song, M, Che, T.M,Bravo, D, Maddox, C.W. and J. E. Pettigrew (2014). Effects of capsicum oleoresin, garlic botanical, and turmeric oleoresin on gene expression profile of ileal mucosa in weaned pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 2014.92:3426–3440 doi:10.2527/jas2013-6496.

13. Park, I, Nam, H, Ravichandran, S, Wall, E.H, and H.S. Lillehoj (2025). Phytochemicals act holistically to enhance host defenses during poultry coccidiosis. Poultry Science, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2025.105042