How a Rumen Protected Plant Extract Can Enhance Performance during the Transition Period

The transition period of dairy cows is defined as the interval between the three weeks before calving and the three weeks after calving. During this period, several changes occur in preparation for parturition and the onset of a new lactation cycle. Female mammals go from pregnant and non-lactating to lactating in a short amount of time, which reflects in drastic changes to their nutritional requirements due to the growth of the fetus, development of the mammary gland, colostrum production and onset of milk production, with the aggravating factor of the reduction in dry matter intake (DMI) in the last three weeks prior to calving.

The lower DMI implies a reduction in energy intake in relation to the animal’s energy requirement, causing a negative energy balance (NEB). The animal, in an attempt to obtain energy, undergoes metabolic changes such as mobilization of fat storages and changes in insulin metabolism, a hormone involved in the processes of cellular absorption of glucose, as an evolutionary strategy to fulfill their new energy requirements.

In dairy cows, plasma insulin concentrations decrease in the final period of gestation and the beginning of lactation, with the day of calving being the day of greatest expression of this condition. This is due to a phenomenon called insulin resistance or loss of insulin sensitivity by peripheral tissues. That is, these tissues have less sensitivity to respond to normal insulin concentrations for the uptake of glucose into the cells. During this period, insulin resistance acts as a nutrient-sparing mechanism in peripheral tissues, potentially redirecting nutrients, such as glucose to the mammary gland for milk production, or by mobilizing the body’s fat reserves and converting them into a source of energy. However, poor animal husbandry and nutritional management may increase the risk for metabolic challenges such as ketosis and hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) and compromise the overall health and performance potential of these animals.

It is during this period that strategies should be adopted to minimize possible negative effects resulting from changes during cow’s transition period. Programs for precision nutrition are crucial for the success of the transition phase. Adjustments of diets aiming for better rumen adaptation, as well as the use of feed additives that decrease insulin production and secretion, enabling glucose sparing to the mammary gland, and improving the general metabolic status are fundamental strategies for enhanced performance of cows during lactation (De Koster and Opsomer, 2013).

Recent studies have shown that some phytomolecules, such as rumen protected capsicum oleoresin (RPC), could exert this impact of glucose sparing through the activation of the TRPV1 receptor in the lower gut, causing a reduction in insulin production and secretion and therefore a “sparing” effect of glucose from peripheral tissue to the mammary gland. It is important to keep in mind that any immune activity within the animal will take priority of this “glucose sparing” over any production performance variables. Thus, provided the animals are healthy, it has been shown that dairy cows supplemented with RPC during a glucose tolerance presented similar blood glucose concentrations; however, cows supplemented with RPC had lower blood insulin compared to control (Oh et al., 2017).

Drawing on this evidence, ADM developed Nexulin, an innovative, rumen bypass feed additive composed of an encapsulated active substance capable of making more glucose available to the mammary gland, enhancing the production of milk and milk solids through optimized use of energy, and reducing the risk of ketosis, fatty liver and other metabolic issues. A set of performance trials ADM has conducted around the world have demonstrated that this feed additive elicits a physiological response not dependent on type of diet (Oh et al., 2017; Wall and Bravo, 2016; Stelwagen et al., 2016). It also is encapsulated with a patented technology that enables stable and consistent delivery of the compound.

Most recently, in collaboration with the University of São Paulo in Brazil, a new research trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of ADM’s RPC in Holstein lactating dairy cows. Results showed an enhanced performance for fat-corrected milk yield and production efficiency for cows supplemented with RPC compared to control (Takiya et al., 2023). “Feeding rumen-protected Capsicum oleoresin to dairy cows during the transition period and early lactation: Effects on nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, and performance” was recently published in the journal Animal Feed Science and Technology.

As the transition period can be a challenging time for the heifer and cow, it’s essential to take advantage of dietary strategies and feed additives that can support performance. Optimizing cows’ glucose metabolism and enhancing their energy status towards milk production and health provides the foundation needed for optimal herd performance and farm profitability.