Feed supplements that combine health-promoting ingredients can improve the general health status of a cow. An improved health status in relation to a well-managed transition period will in turn lead to an increased milk yield and improve the overall performance.
Product Manager Ruminants – Dietary Feed Supplements
Biochem Zusatzstoffe Handels- und Produktionsgesellschaft mbH
The time around calving is one of the most important periods in dairy farming. During this phase the basis for an efficient and profitable milk production is set. With the start of lactation, a rapid increase of the daily milk yield takes place. The immediate onset of an increased physical stress level causes a higher susceptibility to metabolic disorders, such as ketosis, abomasal displacements or uterine inflammations1.
Especially the occurrence of ketosis has high economical impacts and can produce costs of around $289 per case2. Ketosis occurs if the energy requirements exceed the daily energy consumption. As a cause, the organism of the cow starts to mobilize fat reserves. This natural process is used to obtain additional energy in the liver. At high rates of body fat-mobilization, not all mobilized fatty acids can be used in the energy metabolism due to limited availability of oxaloacetate. As a result, ketone bodies will accumulate if energy deficits exist over a longer period. High accumulation rates will lead to liver stress or even damage the liver and increase the risk of secondary diseases like abomasal displacements or uterine inflammations1. A drop in the milk yield already becomes apparent in the early stages of ketosis1!
To compensate metabolic disorders, a high management focus is set on the beginning of lactation. A well-known measure to reduce an energy deficit after calving is the administration of additional energy sources, such as propylene glycol or glycerin. In addition, improving the palatability of the daily ration helps to increase feed intake. High dry matter intakes show a positive effect on energy balance, metabolic health, and lactation performance3.
However, these measures are mainly intended on controlling the symptoms of the metabolic disorder. The question therefore remains whether the focus shouldn’t rather be on optimizing the management of the transition period.
BENEFITTING THE WELFARE
The transition period covers a period of 3 weeks pre-birth and 3 weeks post-birth. Since the feed intake decreases considerably at the end of gestation, a negative energy balance often develops already before parturition. This also implies the formation of NEFA’s4. As a conclusion the consideration should be made to set the focus of management prior to the onset of lactation.
To achieve an optimal transition and a successful start into lactation, it is important to support the cow’s energy metabolism at an early stage. Additionally, the cow should be given the opportunity to recover meanwhile from the previous lactation.
In contrast to the mentioned management measures during lactation, the administration of additional energy sources is not recommended at this stage. Instead, the body’s own metabolic processes should be supported in a targeted manner.
One of such options is, to support the fat metabolism by feeding rumen-protected choline (Figure 1). Choline is an essential component of phosphatidylcholine, which in turn is an essential component of the very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). VLDL is required for fat transport from the liver to the udder. As the accumulated ketone bodies are degraded to triglycerides, the support of fat transport helps to maintain the health of the liver5.
Another possibility is to provide rumen-protected Niacin (Figure 1). Niacin is suspected to reduce the intensity of fat mobilization by interrupting the signaling cascade6. It needs to be taken into account that it’s not intended to stop the mobilization entirely. The aim is to reduce the adverse effects of excessive mobilization.
Therefore, the susceptibility for disorders and the potential of milk performance is closely connected to the welfare of a cow, it is advisable to provide additional support to the cow’s general health status during the transition period. The organism of high performing dairy cows is exposed to a high degree of stress. This may lead to increased levels of inflammation. To support the welfare of a cow the providence of anti-inflammatory substances, such as polyphenols, can be helpful during transition time7. A commonly used natural additive which is rich in polyphenols is Grape extract. In its rumen-protected form, Grape extract is known for its effect on the attenuation of inflammatory processes by blocking central regulators of inflammations (Figure 1). A beneficial side effect is the improvement of the colostral immune status, which not only represents the increased health status of the cow but also improves the health status of the calf, if high quality colostrum is fed.
Feed supplements that combine all these ingredients can improve the general health status of a cow. An improved health status in relation to a well-managed transition period will in turn lead to an increased milk yield and improve the overall performance (Figure 2)!
References
1 LeBlanc, S., Monitoring metabolic health of dairy cattle in the transition period. Journal of reproduction and Development, 2010. 56(S): p. S29-S35.
2 McArt, J., D. Nydam, and M. Overton, Hyperketonemia in early lactation dairy cattle: A deterministic estimate of component and total cost per case. Journal of dairy science, 2015. 98(3): p. 2043-2054.
3 Engelhard, T. Untersuchung zur Futteraufnahme von Kühen in der Trockenstehphase – Zusammenhänge zwischen Futteraufnahme vor der Kalbung und Leistung sowie Stoffwechselparameter. In 3. Dummerstorfer Seminar – Futter und Fütterung, 2014.
4 Martens, H., Diseases of dairy cows in early lactation. Tierärztliche Umschau, 2013. 68: p. 463-476.
5 Arshad, U., et al., Meta-analysis of the effects of supplemental rumen-protected choline during the transition period on performance and health of parous dairy cows. Journal of dairy science, 2020. 103(1): p. 282-300.
6 Chen, J., Z. Yang, and G. Dong, Niacin nutrition and rumen-protected niacin supplementation in dairy cows: an updated review. British Journal of Nutrition, 2019. 122(10): p. 1103-1112.
7 Gessner, D., R. Ringseis, and K. Eder, Potential of plant polyphenols to combat oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in farm animals. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition, 2017. 101(4): p. 605-628.
About Miriam Deppe
Miriam Deppe finished her master’s degree in agricultural science & management at Kiel University of Applied Sciences. After her graduation, Miriam Deppe worked for several years as a young animal specialist in northern Germany and Denmark, focusing on optimizing the calf rearing processes. Since 2021, Miriam has been responsible for Biochem’s Dietary Feed Supplement portfolio for ruminants.
