The edible onion, Allium cepa, is a cultivated species in the Allium genus. All members of Allium have important dietary and medicinal properties. While water and carbohydrates make up a large majority of the fresh onion, fiber, flavonoids and alk(en)yl cystein sulfoxides (ACSOs) confer many of the purported health benefits and aroma properties.

What are they? The use of live micro-organisms as feed supplements for ruminants is not a new concept. Particularly, feeding large amounts of “beneficial” microbes to livestock under stress or confronted with a disease challenge. Microbial products used in this manner were originally called “probiotics,” or products “for life.” However, the term “probiotic” implied a curative nature.

Since other feedstuffs are typically priced to reflect the corn and soybean market, the cost of almost all feed ingredients has increased. Since feed is the largest single cost in producing milk, most producers review their feeding program to see if there are ways to reduce these costs. Any changes made to rations should only occur after a thorough review of the feeding program and must take into account the impact a change could have on other aspects of the overall operation.