Dairy Nutrition
Dose, timing and delivery all shape what transition cows get from supplemental choline.
Considering yeast supplementation for your cattle? Dr. Matt Dodd explains why the specific health goal and product research should guide the decision.
Understanding how starch, fiber and rumen-degradable protein interact can help us recognize what supports efficient microbial protein production.
Feed analysis remains an important tool for identifying potential mycotoxin exposure, but researchers are exploring whether biomarkers in blood and urine can provide a different view: evidence of what the animal actually absorbed and how it processed the toxin.
New thinking on forage particle size suggests the goal isn’t simply getting cows to chew more. It’s helping them spend more time where rumen health may benefit most: lying down.
Higher dietary starch reduced methane emissions, but individual cows remained consistently high or low emitters, suggesting biology may play a larger role than previously thought.
Not all fat supplements work the same way, and understanding the role of individual fatty acids can help nutritionists fine-tune fat supplementation for each herd.
Long overshadowed by rumen bacteria, protozoa play important roles in fiber digestion, rumen stability and nutrient supply. These overlooked microbes may deserve a second glance.
Nutrition is playing a bigger role in heat stress management, with yeast, chromium and betaine stepping up as three tools to help ease the impact.
Before adding another product to a nutrition program, you should first define the problem you are trying to solve, understand how the additive works, review the supporting evidence and determine whether the economics make sense.
Scientists find naturally occurring gut microbes already capable of digesting key compounds from red seaweed.
A new interactive platform aims to help connect digestive health research with on-farm decision making. By expanding beyond the rumen, it reflects a growing shift toward whole-system management in cattle.
Energy balance is only half the battle. Rumen-protected choline provides the essential “shipping crates” needed to clear the liver and prevent post-calving crashes.
From close-up diet setup to on-farm treatment decisions, these expert-backed steps help reduce both clinical and subclinical milk fever.
A newer pre-fresh strategy is gaining traction across U.S. dairies, offering a way to manage hypocalcemia without relying on acidification.
Emerging research suggests milk fever may be less about calcium deficiency and more about how inflammation and metabolism interact during the transition period.
Plant-derived feed additives known as phytogenics may help stabilize rumen function, support gut barrier integrity and reduce inflammation during stress events such as acidosis and heat stress.
When it comes to colostrum, more isn’t always better.
From rumen evaluation to hydration strategy and herd-level engagement, a disciplined approach improves both case outcomes and management conversations.
With 86% of North American feed ingredient samples testing above the risk threshold for mycotoxins, livestock may face stacked biological stress.
Virtually all calf starter grain formulations in the U.S. currently lean on soybean meal as their main protein source. But researchers at Kansas State University are looking at an interesting alternative – distillers grain.
By providing microbial metabolites directly, postbiotics help calves develop stronger gut defenses and support cows as they move through the biologically demanding transition period.
Experts say it’s time to feed colostrum according to quality not habit. When it comes to calf immunity, more volume isn’t always better.
Live microbes are reshaping dairy nutrition, offering new tools to support gut health, rumen stability and production efficiency from calf to cow.
Prebiotic supplementation is beneficial for dairy calf health and development, and may improve milk yield in lactating cows.
Analysis of almost 1,500 liver samples from beef and dairy cattle reveals persistent trace mineral deficiencies affecting herd health.
Understanding and managing ketosis in dairy cows is crucial for maximizing both herd health and productivity, especially during the transition period from precalving to 100 days after calving.