Beyond the rumen of dairy cattle

Feed restriction and heat stress might can cause hind gut acidosis and "leaky gut" in dairy cows. Nutritional strategies can help mitigate the effects of leaky gut in dairy cows. Zinc can reduce oxidative stress in dairy cows and can also improve the immune response. Hydroxy chloride trace minerals have a higher bio-availability than sulfate-based trace minerals. The increased amounts of zinc available to the dairy cow supports better enterocyte health and reduces bacterial infiltration and the occurrence of systemic inflammation in dairy cows.

Selko LactiBute improves hindgut health and reduces systemic immune activation. As a result, energy partition improves and more energy is available for the dairy cow to produce milk. A trial with Selko LactiBute for dairy cattle was carried out in Poland. Selko LactiBute increased milk production by 2.77 kg per cow per day.

A trial with Selko LactiBute in dairy cattle was carried out on 3 dairy farms in France. Milk production of cows treated with Selko LactiBute was compared to the predicted milk production based on genetic potential of the herd. Selko LactiBute improved persistence of milk production. Before the start of the trial, milk production in all 3 dairy herds was equal to the genetic potential of the dairy cows in the herd. During the 4 month period that the cows were on Selko LactiBute, differences in milk production of up to 2.7 kg of milk per day were observed.

Selko LactiBute was tested in 6 Dutch commercial dairy farms. Compared to controls and compared to their genetic potential, dairy cows fed Selko LactiBute had an increase of ECM production of 0.8-1 kg.

A trial in cattle showed that Selko LactiBute, containing rumen protected calcium gluconate had a prebiotic effect in the hindgut of cattle. This resulted in increased levels of acetate and propionate and a trend towards higher levels of butyrate in the hindgut. Butyrate can reduce the risk of hindgut acidosis in dairy cows.

Systemic immune activation results in poor transition to lactation in dairy cows. Recent advances in ruminant nutrition highlight the importance of hindgut acidosis in cattle as a risk factor for a smooth digestive adaptation.

High NEFA's, ketosis and hypocalcaemia are not the cause of transition problems in dairy cows but the result of inflammation that is caused by systemic immune activation that occurs around calving.

During the transition to lactation, dairy cows have to undergo metabolic adaptation, digestive adaptation and immune adaptation. Recent advances in ruminant nutrition highlight the importance of hindgut health as a prerequisite for a smooth digestive adaptation.

Dairy cows undergo 3 core adaptations during the transition to lactation. Digestive, metabolic and immune adaptation need to be succesful to avoid systemic immune activation and inflammation

Mobilisation of body fat in dairy cows in transition is a physiological response to increased demands for energy. Negative energy balance is not a disease. Some cows with a high BCS have a metabotype type that can deal with massive fat mobilisation, others do not have such a metabotype.