“I’ve got to get my cows to make more milk.” “I want to make as much milk as I can and as cheaply as I can.” “My grain bill’s too high and the milk check’s too low.” Most likely every dairy nutritional consultant has heard those words or words to that effect on just about every dairy farm he or she has been on. Or how about:

The fresh cows on any dairy are the most profitable cows in the herd as they reach their peak milk production. But this is often the time in which they are experiencing the most stress due to the hormonal changes associated with calving and the excessive demands of milk production. Proper nutrition both pre-calving and post-calving will aid in the prevention of overstressing the immune system. A healthy immune system will help in preventing mastitis. Mastitis is considered to be the most costly disease affecting the dairy industry. One study concluded that 1/3 of all dairy cows will experience mastitis in at least one quarter. Lost milk production was estimated to be over 800 pounds of milk during a lactation.

Until recently there has not been a significant push to supplement B vitamins in dairy cow diets since they are known to be synthesized in large amounts in a cow’s rumen. It has been recognized for many years that B vitamins are essential for various aspects of a cow’s metabolism, her overall health and milk production.