Planning is key when transitioning cows to new corn silage

 

Fast and effective fermentation of forage crops during ensiling is a prerequisite for the preservation of valuable nutrients for dairy cows. Properly fermented silage provides you with a high-quality forage that you can feed throughout the year. Proper fermentation typically improves digestibility of forage, but with some inoculants, this process can take 3-4 months to achieve. However, using a science-based, research-proven silage inoculant, such as SILOSOLVE® FC, can get you there quicker. The faster fermentation occurs, the greater the quantity of nutrients preserved for feeding.

When you begin feeding new corn silage to your cows, it’s important to do so in small increments. Slowly introducing the new forage will allow the animal’s digestive system to adjust to the new feed. Transitioning cows to a new forage or ration is just one of many stressors she may face.

Stress due to a new ration or environmental changes can contribute to an increased risk of disease and a decrease in production of milk. Reducing the likelihood of adverse health events and maximizing digestibility of feed are essential to achieving a profitable and sustainable dairy operation.

Daily feeding of an effective probiotic is one solution that you can use to help reduce the risks of these potential profit-stealing stressors.

There are many products on the market that contain live microorganisms, but only those containing characterized strains with a scientifically demonstrated effect on health may correctly be termed “probiotics”. By this definition, a probiotic strain must be characterized by its specific identity, potency, and health benefits.

At Chr. Hansen, we have over 40,000 strains in our strain bank. From this bank we can choose the right strains to meet the challenges on your operation. BOVAMINE® Dairy Plus improves the capacity of dairy cattle to get nutrients from their feed, to absorb those nutrients throughout a healthy digestive system, and to reduce the energy-robbing, milk-reducing impact of harmful bacterial infections in their gastrointestinal (GI) tracts.

The impact of BOVAMINE Dairy Plus was tested in the field using observations made on approximately 110,000 dairy cows (Jersey and Holstein) from 14 commercial dairies in three states. Data were collected from one week before and through 90 days during the daily feeding of BOVAMINE® Dairy Plus. The continuous use of BOVAMINE® Dairy Plus increased fiber (NDF) and starch digestibility by 6.5% and 1.0%, respectively, and reduced the variation of these two metrics of digestive efficiency.

Feeding a science-based, research-proven probiotic like BOVAMINE® Dairy Plus isn’t going to eliminate every health issue and cure every ailment, but with several years of research, numerous university trials, and hundreds of thousands of cows later, we know that BOVAMINE Dairy Plus helps keep animals healthy and actively supports their ability to fend off the challenges faced by today’s high-producing dairy cows.

Chr. Hansen is a global, differentiated bioscience company that develops natural ingredient solutions for the food, nutritional, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. At Chr. Hansen we are uniquely positioned to drive positive change through microbial solutions. We have worked for over 145 years to enable sustainable agriculture, better food and healthier living for more people around the world. Our microbial and fermentation technology platforms, including our broad and relevant collection of around 40,000 microbial strains, have game-changing potential. Matching customer needs and global trends we continue to unlock the power of good bacteria to respond to global challenges such as food waste, global health and the overuse of antibiotics and pesticides. As one of the world’s most sustainable companies, we touch the lives of more than 1 billion people every day. Driven by our legacy of innovation and curiosity to pioneer science, our purpose – To grow a better world. Naturally. – is at the heart of everything we do. (www.chr-hansen.com)