ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2025 77 • Dry Matter Intake (DMI): While both groups started with similar DMI in winter (around 25 kg/ day), DMI dropped significantly in the control group during the hot months, stabilizing near 22 kg/day. In contrast, cows supplemented with Nuqo RED maintained higher DMI levels, close to 25 kg/ day, preserving nutrient intake during heat stress. • Milk Production: The control group showed a marked reduction in milk yield during the hot period, losing approximately 4.5 kg per cow per day. The Nuqo RED group maintained milk production at around 41 kg per cow per day throughout the summer, showing a clear mitigation of the negative effects of heat. • Reproductive Performance: Fertility was also supported by Nuqo RED. While conception rates after the first artificial insemination fell to between 10-20% in the control barn during the hot season, the supplemented group maintained a conception rate near 35%. Better body condition scores in the Nuqo RED group further supported improved fertility outcomes. These results highlight Nuqo RED’s ability to preserve intake, productivity, and reproductive health during periods of severe heat stress - key indicators of overall herd resilience and farm profitability. CONCLUSION The 2024 trial clearly demonstrates that Nuqo RED’s microencapsulated hybrid capsaicin technology effectively mitigates the detrimental impacts of heat stress in dairy cows. By maintaining dry matter intake, sustaining milk yield, and supporting fertility, it contributes to stable production and improved animal welfare during extreme environmental conditions. Its unique formulation - combining potent bioactivity with safe, controlled release - makes this solution not only highly effective but also practical and easy to integrate into existing feeding programs. Given its concentrated nature and demonstrated efficacy, this technology should be considered a cornerstone additive in any heat stress management “toolkit” or nutritional pack. Farmers and nutritionists seeking to protect herd performance and maximize return on investment will find Nuqo RED to be a smart, science-backed choice. As climate challenges intensify, innovative solutions like this will be key to sustaining dairy production in hotter, more stressful conditions worldwide. About Dr. Stephanie Ladirat Currently working as Nuqo’s Technology Director, Dr. Stephanie Ladirat obtained her MSc degree in Food Technology with a specialization in Food Ingredient and Functionality and her PhD degree in Food Chemistry from Wageningen University (The Netherlands). During her PhD thesis, she studied in depth the human gut microbiota composition and its modulation upon prebiotic supplementation and/ or antibiotic treatments. From 2014 till 2020, she worked at Cargill Animal Nutrition, first as technology lead for gut health additives and, then, as swine portfolio manager. She provided global technical product support for a broad range of products (phytogenics, organic acids, short and medium chain fatty acids, probiotics) and trained technical and sales teams. She most recently managed R&D projects and developed innovative feed additive solutions to answer specific customer needs related to animal gut health and performance. Conception Rate & Body Condition Score No RED No RED RED vs NC 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Conception Rate, after 1st AI NC RED NC RED Poor Conditions Good Conditions 15% 35% Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
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