Ferappease® Improves Weaning Feed Efficiency
RESEARCH SHOWS FERAPPEASE® ADMINISTERED AT WEANING IMPROVES FEED EFFICIENCY, PROVIDES AN ROI
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (October 15, 2025)
A new independent study from Olds College of Agriculture & Technology (Alberta, Canada) shows that FerAppease®—a unique analogue of the naturally occurring Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance (mBAS)—improves feed efficiency, weight gain, rumination time and immune response in beef heifers during the critical 28-day backgrounding period following weaning and transport.
The study conducted by Gellatly et al (2025)* at the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP) and published in MDPI Animals (September 2025) explored both behavioral and physiological responses, as well as the potential return on investment for producers. “Weaning is one of the most stressful events in a calf’s life, triggering behavioral and physiological changes as calves adjust to new social and nutritional environments,” says Dr. Désirée Gellatly, research scientist at TACLP. “Our findings suggest that FerAppease at weaning improves adaptation in beef heifers, resulting in greater growth and feed efficiency and translating into potential profitability.”
The study included Angus-influenced heifers that were abruptly weaned, weighed and randomly assigned to receive a single treatment of either 10 mL of FerAppease or the water placebo treatment (control group) on day 0 of the study. After treatment, all heifers were transported under identical conditions (equal space allowance per animal per trailer, the same route, identical durations of feed and water deprivation, and a controlled, predesignated speed), ensuring consistent handling across both treatment groups. Over the subsequent 28-day period, the heifers were monitored for key health and performance indicators, including body weight, feed intake, feeding behavior, rumination and blood parameters. Measurements were recorded on days 0, 14 and 28 of the study.
Researchers revealed that FerAppease-treated heifers gained an average of 29.7 pounds more than control heifers over the 27-day feeding period. Treated heifers achieved an average daily gain (ADG) of 3.96 lb/day, compared to 2.86 lb/day for the control group (P = 0.048). Blood analyses indicated a potential enhancement of immune function, with notable differences in lymphocyte counts, hematocrit levels and platelet trends compared to the control group.
Treated heifers also achieved numerically higher profit margins, suggesting FerAppease may support improved post-weaning performance and economic outcomes. According to the research, profit per pen (CAD$/pen) over the 28-day experimental period was calculated as the difference between the final value and the initial value, total feed costs and total medication costs. “Our findings suggest that for every CAD $1 spent on mBAS treatment, the return is approximately CAD $11.74 in profit, based on liveweight-adjusted mBAS treatment costs,” says Dr. Gellatly.
“At FERA, we are dedicated to advancing practical FerAppease research to support producers in enhancing both animal welfare and performance,” says Dr. Rodrigo Bicalho, D.V.M, FERA Diagnostics & Biologicals founder and CEO.“The findings of this study suggest that FerAppease facilitated the adaptation of weaned beef heifers to the background environment. By supporting growth performance, enhancing select immunological parameters, and improving patterns of activity and rumination, FerAppease was associated with enhanced feed efficiency across the entire trial period, particularly evident during the latter half of the study. These results indicate a role for FerAppease in promoting physiological and behavioral adaptation during the post-weaning transition period.”
All ingredients in FerAppease are FDA approved under GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), its use does not require a veterinarian’s prescription or a Veterinary Feed Directive plan, and there are no meat withholding requirements. To learn more about FerAppease and this study, review additional research and to place an order, visit: Ferappease.com/beef/.
FERA Diagnostics & Biologicals is a privately held animal health company based in College Station, Texas. Combining innovation and science, FERA introduced FerAppease to address the hidden health and economic costs of cattle stress.
October 2025
