ARTICLE FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE September 2022 53 Figure 1. Effect of feeding Reashure® Precision Release Choline during transition on milk production over 40 weeks RESULTS Increased Milk and Components over the 40Week Lactation Cows fed ReaShure during the transition period produced an average of 2,1 kg more milk per day (P = 0.08) over the first 40-weeks postpartum (Figure 1). This calculates to an additional 588 kg during the first 40 weeks of lactation. If we extrapolate these results over a 305-day lactation, the outcome would be an additional 640,50 kg of milk per cow per year. Percent fat and protein were not statistically impacted for the ReaShurefed cows. But both fat, 1,56 vs 1,64 kg/day (P = 0.09) and protein, 1,21 vs. 1,27 kg/day (P = 0.07) yield increased as a result of the increased milk production seen in the ReaShure-fed cows. It is also of interest to note that cows (n = 76) considered to have non-excessive body condition at calving (BCS ≤ 3.5) produced on average 2,7 kg more milk per day (P = 0.09) when fed ReaShure. This simply shows that cows of normal body condition respond quite well to ReaShure. ReaShure and Health The authors noted in this study that there were not enough animals to effectively evaluate the effect of ReaShure on the incidence of diseases. Previous studies showed significant differences in clinical and subclinical ketosis but no differences were seen in this study. One very interesting and unexpected outcome in this study was a reduction (P < 0.01) in the prevalence of subclinical hypocalcemia (25.5 and 10.5%) as determined by total plasma calcium levels below 8.0 mg/100 ml at 0, 1, 3 or 7 days-in-milk. The mode of action for this is unclear at this time and will be studied in subsequent research trials. Higher Quality Colostrum Colostrum volumes were statistically the same (8,7 vs. 9,4 kg for the control and ReaShure fed cows, respectively). However, the ReaShure fed cows produced significantly (P = 0.03) more Immunoglobulin G per liter of colostrum (68.2 vs. 86.9 g/L, Figure 2). This could have practical implications for calf health. Figure 2. Effect of feeding ReaShure prepartum on colostrum quantity and quality
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