Calf health: Giving calves the best start
16th October 2025
Protecting the health of newborn calves starts from the moment they hit the ground. One critical aspect of calf care is proper navel management and wound care – which is where Micellerate Dermacare Navel and Wound Spray can act as an essential tool in every calf-rearing system, says Provita Animal Health.
The navel is a direct pathway into a newborn calf’s bloodstream. If not properly managed, it can become a gateway for harmful bacteria, leading to infections such as joint ill or navel ill. These issues can lead to long-term health setbacks and increased treatment costs.
Micellerate Dermacare has been specially developed to deliver fast-acting, natural protection where it’s needed most. The spray contains a synergistic blend of essential oils and naturally derived actives that are proven to support healing while reducing the risk of infection.
Key benefits for calf health:
- Fast drying and long-lasting barrier on the navel to reduce infection risk
- Natural ingredients – no harsh chemicals or iodine
- Supports rapid healing of cuts, scrapes, and minor wounds
- Ideal for use at birth and for treating minor injuries during rearing
- Easy application with a precision spray nozzle – even in challenging weather.
Spray Micellerate Dermacare liberally onto the calf’s navel immediately after birth to help dry and protect the area. It can also be used to treat minor abrasions, post dehorning wounds, or any skin damage that may occur during housing or transport.
Its natural formulation means it’s gentle enough for repeated use, yet powerful enough to offer effective antimicrobial protection.
Using Micellerate Dermacare as part of your standard newborn protocol can help give calves the best possible start. Healthy calves grow better, perform better, and require less intervention later in life – a simple spray can make all the difference.
Trusted by farmers
Farmers using Micellerate Dermacare report cleaner navels, fewer cases of joint ill, and a more natural healing process without the need for harsh chemical products. It’s also ideal for organic and conventional systems seeking a more natural approach to calf care.
One farmer said: “Since we started using Provita’s Micellerate Dermacare, we have not had any cases of joint ill and haven’t needed to use any antibiotics, which is a big change from previous years.
“It dries in very quickly and is easy to apply. You can tell it’s working – it has a bitter smell and taste that the calves hate, so they leave the treated area alone. We also use it on cuts and scrapes – it’s a handy all-rounder to have on the farm.”
Calf protection
Do you dread hearing the ‘S-word’ – scour – or the ‘P-word’ – pneumonia – in the calf shed? Are you sick of tubing sick calves, running back and forth with electrolytes, and paying for costly vet callouts? Every farmer knows that the first few weeks of a calf’s life are the most critical, and when scour or pneumonia strike, they not only take time and money to treat but can set calves back for life.
Good management, hygiene, and colostrum protocols are vital, but even the best-run farms can still face health challenges. That’s why many farmers are now turning to Provita Protect to give calves the best possible start, the company explains.
A newborn calf is born with a sterile gut. Colostrum provides vital antibodies, but that’s only half the job, the gut needs to be quickly colonised with beneficial bacteria to help build a strong immune system and stop harmful bugs from taking hold. If “bad bacteria” get in first, scour and other illnesses are far more likely.
Provita Protect is a licensed veterinary probiotic (POM-VPS) designed specifically for calves. It contains three EU-approved strains of bacteria that colonise the gut immediately after birth. This forms a natural protective barrier, stabilises the gut, and supports immunity from the inside out – helping calves stay healthy and thrive.
And it’s not just theory – it’s proven. Trials on hundreds of calves show that using Protect at birth reduced scour cases by 83%, cut respiratory problems (including pneumonia) by 70%, and improved daily liveweight gain by 31%. By weaning, calves were on average 10% heavier than those not given Protect. Farmers using Protect consistently report easier calf rearing, fewer sick days, and a smoother weaning process.
Wouldn’t it be nice to spend less time treating sick calves and more time focusing on the rest of the jobs? Scour and pneumonia are two of the biggest causes of antibiotic use on farm. By preventing them, you save on treatments, labour, and stress while helping fight the bigger battle against antibiotic resistance.
Protect is quick and simple to use. It’s given as a single oral dose right after colostrum feeding on day one and one dose on day two and three, meaning calves get that protective layer from day one. It slots easily into your current calf routine, and because it’s a licensed product, you know it’s been tested for safety, quality, and effectiveness, the company concludes.
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