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In Part 1 of this series, we began a discussion of prebiotic and probiotic products used in feeding cattle. The types and species are numerous and in many cases, not well understood. Let’s pick up here on the discussion of different products and applications.
Fresh cows experience many stressors and challenges in the first few days and weeks after parturition. These stressors and challenges take their toll on the cows’ immune systems, making these cows more susceptible to metabolic and health problems. It is crucial that dietary needs are met during the close-up dry period, as well as after calving, in order for the cows to get off to a great start for lactation.
Over recent years, a whole category of additive products have exploded in dairy cow (and other food animal species) nutrition. Microorganism-based products such as yeasts, bacteria, fungi, enzyme products, etc., have become standards in dairy nutrition and are commonly found in a significant number of diets.
Transition cows get a lot of attention as the transition period brings significant challenges. For dairy cows, the transition period is typically the last three weeks of gestation and the first three weeks of lactation, during which cows undergo a variety of metabolic and immunological changes that increase their susceptibility to metabolic disorders and infectious diseases.
According to the American Institute of Stress, a popular definition of stress is “a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize”.
The transition period is a key intersection of management on dairies. The sudden increase in demand for energy and nutrients to support milk production, coupled with the stresses of calving, contribute to many different metabolic disorders.
We’re in an environment where consumer choice reigns. Companies and industries that survive in the future will have adapted to meet consumers’ demands. Those that choose to ignore these expectations will have a hard time keeping up and surviving.
In the coming years, heat waves may occur more frequently and last longer. Beyond reducing the quality and quantity of forage, high temperatures and humidity also affect productivity and reproductive performance of livestock.
The marketplace for dairy feed additives is saturated with products that claim to improve production, rumen health, cow health or efficiency, among other advantages. Many of these products can be classified as either prebiotics or probiotics.
Some of the major concerns in the dairy industry regarding the implementation of the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) were increased costs due to management changes and unavailability of in-feed antibiotic medication.
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