IMPROVING HINDGUT HEALTH
no

Search

EN

Close
Chiudere / Cerrar / Zavřít / Zatvoriť
Select your country:
Vyberte svou zemi:
Seleziona il tuo paese:
Selecione seu país:
Vyberte svoju krajinu:
Seleccione su país:
BRASIL CZECHIA ESPAÑA ITALIA SLOVAKIA

Close
Choose your category:

Selko | Transition Management

IMPROVING HINDGUT HEALTH

Prevent ‘leaky gut’ by managing hindgut health of dairy cows

Feed a diet that stimulates rumen fermentation and improves hindgut health of dairy cows

During the transition to lactation, dairy cows are switched to a high energy diet and the amount of fast fermentable carbohydrates in the ration goes up. It is a well-known fact that this puts pressure on rumen fermentation, sometimes leading to subclinical rumen acidosis (SARA).

More recent evidence suggests that there is an equally strong impact on the hindgut3,4,5. Signs that are typically attributed to SARA, like for example loose and frothy faeces, are actually signs of hindgut acidosis (see Figure 1)6,39.


*Figure 1: pH and production of LPS in rumen, caecum and faeces of cows fed high amounts of grain compared to control cows. Increasing the level of starch in the dairy diet decreased pH and increased LPS both in the rumen and the hindgut (Adapted from Li et al, 2012).*

Managing hindgut health

Compared to the rumen, the hindgut has less defence mechanisms against acidosis40,41. The excessive hindgut fermentation and accumulating of organic acids reduces de pH within the hindgut and induces a shift of the microbiota population. This causes damage of the gut epithelium, resulting in “leaky gut6”. It has also been shown that providing trace minerals in the form of sulfates can cause damage to the gut epithelium42.

As a result of leaky gut, inflammation processes occur and immune cells are activated. These cells use glucose, which would normally be used for milk production or for processes to support fertility. This leads to a reduction of energy partitioning6.

Managing hindgut health for a healthy transition to lactation

Hindgut acidosis is a common problem in dairy cows. Signs previously attributed to rumen acidosis are in fact signs of hindgut acidosis. Hindgut acidosis results in systemic immune activation which in term results in a reduction of milk production.

The impact of systemic immune activation on the transition to lactation

Most of the problems during transition are responses to immune activation as a result of systemic inflammation. The rumen is a well-known source of origin for this systemic immune activation, but there is more and more evidence that it can also come from the small and large bowel. Soluble nutrients that should have been absorbed in the rumen find their way to the small and large intestine where they cause abnormal fermentation which causes problems with gut barrier function.

Download more research and documentation

You can access all of our documentation about Selko protocols, sustainable dairy farming and latest research insights about Dairry Cow transition management.

Improve hindgut health by reducing hindgut acidosis and by improving gut barrier function

Hindgut acidosis of dairy cows can be reduced with Selko LactiBute, which contains rumen protected calcium gluconate43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50. Gut barrier function can be improved by providing IntelliBond hydroxy form of trace minerals42, thus avoiding the negative effects of sulfates on hindgut health of dairy cows.

Download our technical brochure "Improving gut health of dairy cows".

Register to download

Download brochure - Improving gut health of dairy cows

Or visit our download center for more information:
Go to download center

Register once and download all you need
This is not correct
This field is required
This is not correct
This is not correct.
This is not correct
Thank you for your interest in Selko

We have just sent you an email. Follow the instructions in this email to complete your download. Notice that In some cases, spam filters can block automated emails. If you do not find the email in your inbox, please check your junk email folder.

Have a nice day!

Selko | Solutions based science

Manage heat stress to maintain dairy performance during this summer with Selko® LactiBute.

Contact your local Selko specialist
for a free consult.
This is not correct
This is not correct
This is not correct
This is not correct
This is not correct
Thank you for contacting Selko

We have just sent you an email to confirm your request. We will contact you within the next 3 business days.

Enjoy your day,
the Selko global marketing team

Find out more about transition management...

Transition management

Rumen protected potassium gluconate increases milk production of dairy cows on 3 commercial farms in France

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.
TRANSITION MANAGEMENT

Calcium gluconate increases production of energy corrected milk in dairy cows

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.
TRANSITION MANAGEMENT

The impact of calcium gluconate on volatile fatty acid levels in the hindgut of cattle

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.
TRANSITION MANAGEMENT

Transition problems of dairy cows are caused by systemic immune activation

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.
TRANSITION MANAGEMENT

Dietary interventions to improve hindgut health of dairy cows

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.
TRANSITION MANAGEMENT

The three core physiological adaptations of dairy cows during transition

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
TRANSITION MANAGEMENT

Not all cows with a high Body Condition Score have problems with their transition to lactation

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.

Selko Feed Additives 

Making sustainable dairy farming profitable

Science-based solutions for optimum dairy performance

Selko LactiBute

Adding Selko LactiBute to the ratio increases milk production while increasing fat and protein levels at the same time. This results in an increase of Energy Corrected Milk of 0.85-1 kg per head per day.

Read more   

Selko IntelliBond

IntelliBond’s increased bioavailability and the positive impact on fibre digestion and gut barrier function support well-being and optimizes animal productivity of dairy cows.

Read more   

Selko TOXO & TOXO-XL

Selko TOXO® is a mycotoxin mitigation product that contains bentonite, which has strong binding capacity for aflatoxins, ergot toxines and LPS, in combination with glucose biopolymers which maintain gut tight junctions to reduce the translocation of mycotoxins into blood stream. Selko TOXO-XL® combines this with purified β-glucans that improve the immune function of dairy cows.

Read more   

Selko TMR

Selko TMR® is a blend of organic acids that reduces the growth of yeasts, moulds and bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae like Salmonella. As a result of the reduction in growth of micro-organisms, increases in temperature of the TMR are delayed by at least 6 hours in silages treated with Selko-TMR, resulting in a higher dry matter intake.

Read more   

Selko NutriCool

Even the best heat stress control programme cannot always fully prevent problems with heat stress in dairy cows. Supplementation with Selko NutriCool can help to avoid a drop in dry matter intake and loss of milk production as a result of heat stress.

Read more   

Selko Renergy®

Selko Renergy® is a blend of organic acids that modifies rumen fermentation by increasing propionate production. Propionate is a key source of energy for ruminants and is also the most efficient volatile fatty acid (VFA) produced in the rumen. More energy from propionate in the rumen increases production efficiency.

Read more   
Selko Programme
Selko Products
Scientific Insights
Tools & Advice
Selko ©2022 Legal information Privacy statements Cookie policy