ISSUE FOCUS 42 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2025 es were observed for feed intake and body condition score between both groups, resulting in a significantly improved feed efficiency in animals fed IQs (Figure 2). Again, this effect became more pronounced after a trial period of eight weeks. No changes were seen for milk components between both groups but a trend for reduced somatic cell counts in the groups fed IQs (-28%, p = 0.06). Plasma cortisol levels were assessed at the beginning of the trial and after 60 days. While no differences were seen at the beginning of the study, significant lower cortisol levels were measured in the IQs-supplemented group, indicating a lower stress response (Figure 3). While lameness was observed in 24% of the cows on the control group, a significant lower number of animals was lame in the IQs group (10%). Also, the number of lameness which had to be treated with antibiotics 1,5 1,4 1,3 1,2 1,1 Control 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Study Week * P < 0.05 IQs-supplementation improved feed conversion by 3.6% (p<0.05) Control (n=58): 1.38 IQs (n=58): 1.43 Feed Efficiency IQs Figure 2. Effect of IQs on feed efficiency 0,75 0,5 0,25 0 0.635 Day 0 Control IQs Day 60 0.672 0.586a 0.339b ab p ≤ 0.01 Cortisol, ug/dL plasma Figure 3. Effect of IQs on plasma cortisol levels ShutterStock | 1289604757
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