Optimising dry cow nutrition for better appetite and rumen capacity

The transition period is the most critical and challenging phase in a dairy cow’s production cycle.

The significant metabolic, physiological and hormonal changes faced by a transition cow massively impact her rumen health.

This can often lead to an imbalanced microbiota and poor rumen function in early lactation, risking long-term health and fertility issues.

So, a carefully-considered dry cow nutrition plan that prioritises rumen health is essential.

Why pre-calving nutrition is crucial

One of the biggest challenges in pre-calving nutrition is the transition from a high-fibre dry cow diet to a lactation diet which is rich in rapidly fermentable carbohydrates.

This change can upset the balance of microbes in the rumen, which in turn hampers nutrient absorption.

It also increases the risk of harmful bacteria and toxins entering the bloodstream.

This disruption comes at a time when the cow’s metabolic demands are at their greatest, and the rumen needs to be functioning optimally.

The impact of negative energy balance in the transition period

When a cow’s rising nutritional demands overtake feed intake during the transition period, she will experience a temporary negative energy balance in early lactation.

This results in body condition loss, a drop in immunity, and increased susceptibility to diseases related to oxidative stress. 

To ensure cows enter lactation in optimal condition, addressing negative energy balance with a tailored dry cow feeding plan that promotes rumen health is vital.

Supporting rumen health with targeted dry cow feeding

Without proper management, the knock-on effects of poor rumen health during the transition period can be costly.

This includes metabolic disorders, sub-optimal milk production, low body condition, lameness and fertility losses. All of these significantly impact long-term cow health and performance.

Pay particular attention to the rumen and its microbiota to address these challenges  during the transition period – they’re also transitioning. 

How feeding a rumen-specific live yeast benefits transition cows

Feeding our rumen-specific live yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 (Levucell SC), helps stabilise the rumen microbiota, promoting fibre-digesting microbes and reducing the risk of acidosis.

Studies have shown that cows supplemented with Levucell SC for at least 30 days before calving produced an additional 2.3kg of milk per day in the first 30 days of lactation¹. This rise in milk production is attributed to improved feed efficiency and an average increase in dry matter intake (DMI) of 1.5kg/day.

How does this benefit your dairy farming business?

Based on a 200-cow herd achieving an average milk price of 41p per litre, inclusion of Levucell SC for the whole of the dry period results in additional milk production worth an estimated  £5,658. This delivers a X:1 ROI based on the milk cheque alone².

As a consequence of improved feed efficiencies and higher feed intakes in the studies, body condition loss reduced by 0.7kg per day. Managing cow body condition during the dry period helps achieve an optimal body condition score (BCS) of between 3.0 and 3.5 at calving³.

This has been shown to deliver long-term benefits for herd health and productivity, including:

Watch this video to discover how Levucell SC benefits rumen microbiota to support transition cows

Improving rumen function supports cow welfare and productivity

Further research and field trials involving our rumen-specific live yeast, Levucell SC, provide evidence of positive outcomes for cow welfare and productivity.

Fresh cows that were fed Levucell SC for at least 30 days before calving spent more time lying down. In robotic milking units, visits to the robot also increased. These are both indicators of improved rumen function.

Dairy farm businesses which have trialled the inclusion of the live yeast also experienced an improvement in:

With all of these factors having a positive impact on the bottom line for dairy farms, it is worth investing in feeding a rumen-specific live yeast to transition cows.

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