B vitamins are important for protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism of beef cattle1.2. Rumen synthesis of B vitamins is often believed to be sufficient to support vitamin B requirements of beef cattle, but particularly in high performing beef cattle on diets with high levels of easily fermentable carbohydrates, rumen synthesis of B vitamins can be insufficient to meet beef cattle requirements for B vitamins3.
Selko Vivalto® for beef cattle is a vitamin supplement which includes a blend of rumen protected B vitamins. Selko Vivalto is designed to improve post-absorptive efficiency of feedstuffs, supporting the changing metabolic demands in growing beef animals.

The beef cattle supplement Selko Vivalto contains vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid) and vitamin B12 (cobalamincalcium gluconate). Disappearance of B vitamins in the rumen was tested in a study, in which up to 99.3% of B vitamins was degraded in the rumen3. B vitamins in Selko Vivalto for beef cattle are encapsulated, to ensure they bypass the rumen and reach the intestine intact. Trials have shown that bypass levels of B vitamins in Selko Vivalto for cattle are around 95% (see Figure 1).

Multiple studies4,5,6 have shown that supplementation of beef cattle with Selko Vivalto rumen protected B vitamins improves performance of feedlot cattle.

A study carried out in Nellore cattle4 showed that supplementing beef cattle with a combination of Selko Vivalto and Selko IntelliBond hydroxy trace minerals improved liver metabolism because the beef cattle supplement reduced oxidative damage to liver cells.
In another study5, Selko Vivalto was fed to beef cattle in a feedlot between day 15 and day 126. Feeding Selko Vivalto did alter overall yield grade distribution but did not influence any cumulative growth performance measures or liver abscess outcome during the full study period. During the first 28 days of the study period however, supplementation of 1 gram of Selko Vivalto to beef steers in a feedlot resulted in a greater average daily gain and a better feed conversion.

A study6 was carried out in a cow-calf operation for beef cattle at the Oregon State University. Cows were fed Selko Vivalto rumen protect B vitamins between 45 days before calving and 15 days after calving. Body weight of these cows at calving did not differ between the two groups, but calves born from cows in the Selko Vivalto group tended to be heavier at turnout at 90 days of age (see table 1). These results indicate that supplementation of Selko Vivalto to beef cows during late gestation might lead to improved performance of their offspring shortly after birth. Improving vitamin B status of beef calves in which ruminal flora is still developing, can have a positive impact on growth and weaning weight of beef calves.

The ruminal flora of beef cattle cannot always produce enough B vitamins to meet the metabolic requirements for vitamin B of growing beef cattle. Selko Vivalto is a beef cattle supplement containing rumen protected B vitamins. Feeding Selko Vivalto to growing beef cattle in feedlot operations improves feed efficiency and increases average daily gain. Feeding Selko Vivalto for beef cattle to cows in cow calf operations during the last part of gestation will have a positive impact on the rumen flora of beef calves and increase weaning weight at turn-out.

1. Amat S, McKinnon J.J, Olkowski A.A, Penner G.B, Simko P, Shand J and S. Hendrick (2013). Understanding the role of sulfur–thiamine interaction in the pathogenesis of sulfur-induced polioencephalomalacia in beef cattle. Res. Vet Sci. 95, 3:1081-1087.
2. Karapinar T, Dabak M and O. Kizil (2010). Thiamine status of feedlot cattle fed a high-concentrate diet. Can Vet J. 51, 11: 1251–1253.
3. Santschi D.E, Berthiaume R, Matte J.J, Mustafa A.F & Girard C.L (2005). Fate of supplementary B-vitamins in the gastrointestinal tract of dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 88, 6:2043-54.
4. Mescouto Lopes, M, Ribeiro Brito, T, Fonseca Lage, J, Correia Costa, T, dos Santos Fontes, M.M, Lopes Serão, N.V, de Oliveira Mendes, T.A, Andrade Reis, R, Veroneze, R, Fonseca e Silva, F and M. de Souza Duarte (2021). Proteomic Analysis of Liver from Finishing Beef Cattle Supplemented with a Rumen-Protected B-Vitamin Blend and Hydroxy Trace Minerals Animals, 11, 1934.
5. Ribeiro, T.L.M, Francis, F.L, Heldt, J.S, Rusche, W.C. and Z. K. Smith (2023). Evaluation of a ruminally protected blend of pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folic acid, biotin, and vitamin B12 on finishing steer growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy utilization, carcass trait responses, and liver abscess prevalence and severity. Translational Animal Science, 2023, 7.
6. Ranches, J, Hernandez, G.M, Rezende, A, Ferreira, M. and D. Bohnert (2022) Effects of Late Gestation Supplementation of Vitamin B Complex for Beef Cows. J. Anim. Sci Vol. 100, Suppl. S4, 26-27.