Leading dairy nutritionists, producers and industry influencers met in Stoke-on-Trent earlier this summer to discuss new developments in transition cow nutrition.
Hosted by Balchem Animal Nutrition & Health, the UK leg of a series of events across Europe was organised in partnership with Trident MicroNutri and was designed to share new research findings and practical trial results.
New Developments in Transition Cow Nutrition was presented by Dr Jose Santos from the University of Florida, where he shared the newest research around feeding rumen-protected choline.
He was joined by Anna Millar, Trident MicroNutri’s ruminant technical manager, who shared insights from the field.
Anna looked at how ReaShure XC, a highly concentrated form of rumen-protected choline affects colostrum yield and quality.
It included trial results from Metcalfe Farms. At the time of the trial, starting in April 2022, the dairy herd at Metcalfe Farms consisted of 1,300 pedigree Holsteins with 1,100 in milk, showing an average yield of 39kg per cow at 3.3% protein and 3.9% butterfat.
The overall aim was to improve the transition of the cows and to increase three-week milk yields, so they could get the cows hitting the ground running and being more productive at the beginning of the lactation, achieving their full potential,” she explained.
The close-up dry and fresh cow groups were fed ReaShure XC, at 21 days pre- and post-partum, via addition into TMR in a pre-blended pre-mix.
“The results saw colostrum quality increase, and metabolic incidences remained low,” said Anna. “Cows at 21-days in milk lifted their milk yield by about 2.3kg. Heifers also transitioned well with a similar improvement.”
Levels of metritis and displaced abomasum were also reduced.
Return on investment
Anna also looked at the approximate costs of feeding the product. “At 40p per day, based on a 42-day transition, three-weeks before and three-weeks after calving, which we think is best protocol for feeding ReaShure XC, this works out at £16.80 per cow per transition,” she explained.
“In comparison to other approaches to supporting the energy balance of cows around calving, such as a bolus or bypass fats, the costs stand up extremely favourably, before even considering the additional benefits achieved, such as health and fertility.”
Studies have reportedly shown that delivering choline can lead to a return on investment as high as 23:1, in terms of the combined benefits of full lactation production, reduced metabolic disorders and improved calf health and growth.
“So, we can conclude that feeding ReaShure XC both pre- and post-calving delivers ROI, while supporting higher peak milk and lactation yield, healthier transitions, improved calf growth and health and increased colostrum production,” concluded Anna.