Additives

Postbiotics in practice: Turning up performance in today’s dairy herds

matt_dodd@diamondv.com — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

By supporting immune function, helping moderate the impact of health challenges and contributing to more consistent performance, a yeast postbiotic helps raise more long-lived cows that quietly pay you back in the parlor.

Betaine affects dairy herd health and performance during heat stress

gary@bioagsolutionsllc.com — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Betaine is a natural ingredient capable of dramatically affecting animal health and performance, specifically under increasing THI and heat stress-inducing conditions.

Global collaboration: Unlocking innovation for dairy producers

gabriela.acetoze@adm.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Rumen-protected capsicum helps cows optimize energy partitioning during early lactation. This is a subtle but powerful intervention that translates into measurable performance gains.

The next decade of dairy: Unlocking revenue growth through innovation and AI

courtneygraham@agrigrowthsolutions.com — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

By adapting to new market trends and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI)-driven efficiencies, dairy operations can increase profitability while reducing costs.

Navigating winter dysentery and the everyday challenges of dairy farming

ryaro@novonesis.com — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Winter dysentery is unpredictable but inevitable; daily use of a proven probiotic supports healthy, productive herds and helps maintain normal GI function.

Mycotoxin strategies should prevent, protect and build resilience

Joel.Pankowski@churchdwight.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

New mycotoxin species emerge every year and spread rapidly to affect livestock. Protecting cows from these pathogenic pressures is important to protect cow health and maintain a productive herd. Gut health has never been more important, which adds to the critical nature of a mycotoxin mitigation strategy.

New ways to fuel the rumen for greater efficiency

jweyers@zinpro.com — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The ability to factor isoacid requirements into ration formulation has allowed numerous dairies across the country to improve herd performance. If you’re looking for ways to make the most of available forages and improve herd productivity, be sure to ask your nutritionist about including isoacids in your herd’s ration.

Keep cows balanced during heat stress

mario_riboni@diamondv.com — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Working alongside external mitigation, nutrition interventions can help to reduce the impact of heat stress. Together, they help keep internal processes balanced and alleviate some of the stress from higher heat and humidity.

Nexus awards: Feeding rumen-protected lysophospholipid increases nutrient absorption, energy-corrected milk and feed efficiency of dairy cows

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Tue, 06 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A rumen-protected coating on a feed product that’s been fed for 15 years to chickens and pigs shows promise to move stubbornly intractable feed efficiency rates in dairy cows.

Find the next bump in your paycheck

sarah.stocks@novusint.com — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

With so many factors to consider, understanding a farm’s income over feed costs can take time, but that understanding also provides a clear map of the changes possible on the farm. By knowing the total costs associated with their operation, dairy farmers can weigh their options to find the next bump in their paycheck and support profitability.

Supporting the transition cow: A probiotic-centered approach

kimmo@novonesis.com — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The transition period in dairy cows is a pivotal time for maintaining health and productivity. During this phase, significant physiological, metabolic and dietary changes occur, which present unique challenges for the cow.

The necessity for a whole-farm approach to sustainability

gabriela.acetoze@adm.com — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Addressing dairy sustainability goals through a comprehensive and holistic approach and taking into consideration the entire operation as the active unit mitigating environmental impact is the ultimate way to ensure all initiatives fulfill the true definition of sustainability.

The first of its kind: Bovaer receives FDA support

krogstad.6@osu.edu — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

On May 28, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Bovaer met its safety and efficacy requirements for use in dairy cattle. This is a watershed moment, as this approval is the first of its kind and is likely to be the first of many as methane-mitigating feed additives continue to receive investment, research, and development from a variety of public and private organizations.

Understanding yeast products: There is a difference

sblez@verizon.net — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Feeding yeast can be a valuable part of a well-designed dairy feeding program. Primary end effects include the reduction of stress, improvement of performance, and improvement in gut and overall animal health. Since there are a fairly large number of different types of yeast products on the market, it is important to carefully research which products may be the most effective and economical for any given dairy.

Investments in life cycle feeding of probiotics supports your bottom line

kimmo@novonesis.com — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Effective probiotics cost pennies per day and provide significant benefits throughout the entire life cycle of an animal.

Feed additives: The next frontier of the dairy industry’s sustainability journey

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Feed additives have been highlighted as the best way to reduce enteric methane emissions in the short term due to their ease of applicability in a dairy farm. Typically, additives account for less than 1% of a dairy cow’s diet, but they have a drastic impact on enteric methane – up to 30% on commercial farms.

The role of phytochemicals during the transition period

animalnutrition@adm.com — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

If we consider how plants can help our heifers and cows conquer that daunting transition period, there may be more than simply forages, in terms of plants, to consider. Let us dig into the world of phytochemicals.

Weekly Digest: FDA confirms safety and efficacy of methane-reducing feed ingredient for dairy cows

karen@agproud.com — Thu, 30 May 2024 13:50:47 -0400

From methane reduction and greenhouse gas programs to nutrition programs and NASS surveys, here is the week's news to wrap up May 2024.

Simplifying the feeding program: Steps toward improved efficiency

sblez@verizon.net — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

A few months ago, I received a call from a dairyman who was having issues with his somatic cell count (SCC). He asked me to look over his feeding program and see if I saw anything that they might be overlooking or that stood out as a problem that might affect somatic cell, mastitis levels, etc.

Weekly Digest: Southeastern U.S. FMMOs amended

dave@agproud.com — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 11:28:34 -0500

Here’s an update on news and economic factors impacting your dairy entering the first full week of February 2024.

[Podcast] Feed additives: The difference between a good herd and a great one?

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, Dr. Devan Paulus Compart, Technical Services Manager with Papillon Agricultural Company, shares her 5-step process for selecting feed additives, how additives can be used as a tool to manage on-farm challenges, what metrics define feed additive success and how to make an informed financial decision for your operation.

Supporting normal with effective bacilli-based probiotics in dairy cattle diets

usjasn@chr-hansen.com — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

“Normal” may not seem very exciting, but when it comes to managing dairy cattle, it can be a very good thing. Effective bacillus-based probiotics can help us do just that.

The key to successful transition cows: The rumen

louderdvm@gmail.com — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The dry period is a time of rest and relaxation for the dairy cow. While her body continues to finish growing a calf, other organs are recovering from the lactation that has just been completed and preparing for another year of milk production.

Life cycle feeding of probiotics: Is she worth $50?

kimmo@novonesis.com — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Ultimately, return on investment determines the value of any probiotic during a particular segment of an animal’s life or through life cycle feeding. What did we gain by spending the money to feed the effective probiotic or what did we "not lose" by feeding it?

Lameness: Be proactive before heat stress

gwheeler@diamondv.com — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:59:12 -0400

With heat stress comes lameness and negative impacts on hoof health. In fact, heat stress is one of the biggest factors contributing to dairy cow lameness.

Evaluating feed additive pertinence in dairy rations

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The use of feed additives in livestock diets is part of many nutritional strategies to help optimize performance, health and the well-being of animals.

Heat stress and essential nutrients for rumen microbes

dtomlinson@zinpro.com — Wed, 31 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The impact of heat stress is cumulative. One event may be easy for a cow to bounce back from, but over time, repeated bouts take longer recovery and hinder profitability. Nutrition is a valuable tool to help mitigate the effects of heat stress and maintain herd productivity.

Improving milkfat production in the U.S.

hannah.tucker@novusint.com — Tue, 23 May 2023 09:40:20 -0400

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.

Feeding practices to cool hot cows

rrodrigues@provimi-na.com — Fri, 19 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Heat stress occurs when an animal generates and absorbs more heat than it can dissipate through respiration, sweating or active cooling. Rumination generates large amounts of heat, so when a cow is hot, her first response is typically to eat less feed.

A tale of two cows: Dosing the animal versus the feed

sara.kvidera@elancoah.com — Thu, 11 May 2023 16:45:20 -0400

Flashback to 20 years ago. It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. The cows ate less but required more feed per pound of milk. There’s no doubt today’s cows are exponentially more efficient than even 20 years ago.