Let’s play a simple word association game. When I say “milkfat,” what do you say? Palmitic? That’s what I’d expect 80% of you to say if we were having this conversation in person.

If there’s one set of research that has prompted me to think differently about how we manage dry cows, it’s the work done by Dr. Geoffrey Dahl and team at the University of Florida on the effects of heat stress on dry cows.

Many factors can impact a cow’s productivity and there are just as many tips and tricks to help address production challenges on a dairy farm. Along with herd management, feed additives are valuable tools to support and achieve milk yield and component goals.

The transition period, characterized as the three weeks pre- through three weeks postpartum, is a critical life event for the dairy cow. Around calving, cows involuntarily reduce feed intake; however nutrient demands increase to support fetal growth and milk production.

Throughout my more than 30 years of studying fat feeding and lipid metabolism in ruminant species, the major emphasis was consistently on sources and feeding rates, but little attention was directed at fat quality.