Ben is the General Manager
at Agilis and a farmer
As farmers, we are often asked to think outside the square about product use. FerAppease®, a synthetic pheromone, is one of these products. Farmers are all aware of pheromones; we see it in our cows and bulls at mating. And we see products using pheromones to deal with stress in cats and dogs.
Google AI tells us:
Pheromones are chemical signals released by organisms, triggering specific social or behavioural responses in others of the same species, acting as a form of chemical communication for attracting mates, warning of danger, or marking trails.
Coming out of research in the USA and the feedlots of Texas, and widely used in the beef industry, FerAppease® is a synthetic pheromone that is being used extensively to manage periods of stress in beef and dairy animals (they sold over 14M doses in 2025 in the USA).
“Maternal pheromones are naturally produced by the mammary gland of the female when she is lactating, playing an important role in mitigating stress for the offspring,” said Dr. Reinaldo Cooke, professor at Texas A&M Animal Sciences Department.
Cooke explained that FerAppease® is the synthetic analogue of that pheromone. “Researchers were able to isolate the maternal pheromone and replicate it for commercial use in cattle. This study confirms the use of FerAppease® during the pre-weaning period can be a suitable strategy to improve dairy calf health and performance.”
FerAppease® is an oral treatment applied to the head of the calf/cow/bull and is breathed in by the animal to control stress during a stressful period, i.e. weaning, change in mobs, commencement of lactation, transport. FerAppease® controls levels of stress for up to 14 days. By controlling stress, the immune system of the animal is strengthened, resulting in improved health and weight gain, which are the commercial drivers for its adoption in the USA and other markets.
“Less stressed heifers at teat sealing, less behavioural issues when mixing bulls, and less heifers kicking off cups.”
There is a growing resource of scientific papers coming out the USA that is supporting its use at times of stress. Studies from California and China in dairy cows demonstrated its use was associated with improvement in cow health and increases in volume of milk produced. A study on dairy farms in Minnesota, applying FerAppease® at dry-off, improved rumination rate in the dried-off cows, and improved milk and colostrum production in subsequent seasons.
Trials have also started in the UK, where farming practices are more aligned with NZ (use of NSAIDs, no growth hormones etc) and they are reporting the same health improvement benefits to the cow, and the financial benefits of an increase in daily liveweight gain.
Another benefit reported from trials in the UK has been more quality colostrum at first milking, and no requirement for oxytocin in heifers which used FerAppease®. This includes adaptation to the milking routine, which has been 24 to 36 hours. This matches US data, where parlour training and kick-offs have been reduced by 50% to 60%, depending on the trials.
We have started to see FerAppease® use in NZ, and the anecdotal response is in line with the overseas research. Less stressed heifers at teat sealing, less behaviour issues when mixing bulls, and less heifers kicking off cups.
We will learn more about FerAppease® from overseas research and in its increased use in NZ. This highlights how there is always more to learn about how we look after the welfare of our cattle.
Consider having a discussion with your Vetlife veterinarian to see where a product like FerAppease® may sit in your system.
