UNLOCKING NUTRITIONAL STRATERGIES FOR SMOOTH TRANSITION IN DAIRY COW

UNLOCKING NUTRITIONAL STRATERGIES FOR SMOOTH TRANSITION IN DAIRY COW

Introduction

The nutritional and disease management of dairy animals is very crucial to get maximum production and thus to get income from selling of milk, meat, manure, hide, etc. During its production life, a dairy animal pass through various physiological stages like onset of heat, early pregnancy, late lactation, drying off, late gestation & transition to lactation, early and mid- lactation, etc.Better nutritional and health management duringtransition period helpsto improve cow health, milk production and reproductive performance. Now it’s well established that the dairy animals with better nutrition and health management before calving show dramatic reductions in post-calving complications including milk fever, retention of fetal membranes and also show improvements in milk production and fertility.

Implications of Unsuccessful Transition

The management of transition dairy cattle should be done with objectives to reduce ruminal disruption, avoid micromineral deficiencies, minimise lipid mobilisation disorders, avoid immune suppression, there is great risk, if the dairy cattle fail to transit successfully to lactation and this can result in several complications like-

1. Reduced dry matter (DM) intake: The several rapid metabolic & hormonal changes during this high stress period, often lead to reduced DM intake.
2. Reduced or no milk production: Reduced intake of DM and thus nutrients hamper milk production
3. Delayed oestrus, failure to conceive: Compromised nutrition especially important trace minerals, during critical period of transition to lactation and contrarily high demands of nutrients for lactation, mostly disturb the follicular developments, cyclical rhythm and thus affect reproduction
4. Increased incidence of diseases like Hypocalcaemia and downer cow syndrome; Hypomagnesaemia, ketosis and fatty liver, Oedema of udder, Abomasal displacement, Retention of placenta and fetal membranes. Difficulties in calving invite uterine infections, often leading to metritis, pyometra, etc.
5. Poor fertility and poor milk production: The ultimate result of poor transition cow management can be poor fertility and severe effect on milk production.

During transition to lactation several hormonal adaptive changes occur

1. Increased fat breakdown and decreased synthesis
2. Increased gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis to provide energy.
3. Increased mobilisation of protein and mineral reserves.
4. Increased feed intake and nutrient absorption.

Thus, the integrated approach in transition feeding is very essential and any perturbations in nutrition during this period affect lactation, health and reproductive performance of dairy animals.

Essential Components of Transition feed supplement: 

1. Micronutrients for Homeostasis, hormonal adaptations and Optimal Health: Supplementation of Micro-minerals, vitamins, enzymes, fibres and other nutrients can significantly support the transition adaptations to optimize rumen functions, energy and protein metabolism and immune function. Important micro-minerals as co-factors and certain vitamins, amino acids can facilitate optimum hormonal levels and also subsequent key hormonal adaptations during transition to lactation.
2. Calcium Homeostasis with DCAD: Periparturient hypocalcaemia (milk fever) is associated with the onset of lactation and mammary gland function.Nutritional strategies aim to minimize periparturient hypocalcaemia by manipulating these hormonal control points to enhance the cow’s ability to manage the negative mineral balance associated with the onset of lactation onset. One such strategy involves adjusting the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD)to prevent metabolic alkalosis and potentially induce compensated metabolic acidosis. Correcting metabolic alkalosis through a negative DCAD diet could prevent alterations in the parathyroid hormone receptor conformation on bone, facilitating calcium mobilization from bone reserves. Diets with a negative DCAD administered prepartum have consistently shown efficacy in reducing both subclinical and clinical hypocalcaemia in cows prone to milk fever.
3. Energy booster Supplements: During the onset of lactation, dairy cows have massive energy requirements to support milk production and to maintain their health status and welfare. Glucose plays a pivotal role;to produce 1 kg of milk, 72 g of glucose is required, and the mammary gland is responsible for about 50 to 85% of total glucose consumption. After calving, glucose requirements dramatically increase by up to 2.5-fold compared with those of the dry period and even more if an immune response occurs during this period. The main challenge faced by transition dairy cows is the acute and marked increase in nutrient requirements that occurs at a time when the dry matter intake of the cow remains far lower than requirements. Cows cannot cope with this increase in energy intake, which leads to an energy imbalance after which body reserves are mobilized. Feeding glucogenic precursors during the first week of lactation have shown positive effect in feed intake, reduction in negative energy balance anddecreasing incidence and severity of ketosis.
4. Amino acids: Methionine and lysine are widely recognized as the two most crucial amino acids for milk and milk protein synthesis. These amino acids also play potential roles in mitochondrial beta-oxidation of fatty acids and contribute to carnitine biosynthesis in the liver. Additionally, they are involved in the export of triglycerides. Milk yield and fat can be positively affected by methionine supplementation. The effects on milk yield and fat could be related to the enhanced availability of nutrients because of the positive effect on dry matter intake (DMI). Methionine supply helps in maintaining constant rates of DMI prepartum and in increasing DMI in early lactation, which may be due to improved inflammatory status, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced liver function. The improvement in these functions suggests that high-producing dairy cows adapt successfully to the new lactation following methionine& lysine supplementation.
5. Proteins are key to Health and productivity: The requirement of transition cow is mostly estimated with focus on energy nutrition and importance of protein nutrition is largely underestimated. The feed supplement containing high number of proteins and free form amino acids, which can support high protein requirements for synthesis of colostrum- the first lacteal secretion, rich in nutrients and immunoglobulins, which prevent newborn calf from early infections. It will provide more and better-quality milk, for good healthy start of the newborn calf. It also helps to prevent calving difficulties and avoid chances of dystocia. Average cows in mid-gestation need approx. 600-650 grams of protein per day. In late gestation 8-9 months cow require closer to 700-900 grams per day. Lactating cows require even higher, which depends on level of milk production. Approx. 95-100 gram/day/kg milk production.
6. Benefits of Prebiotic in diet: Managing the rumen microbes through prebiotic or probiotic supplementation favours positive nutritional balance. Strains of the eukaryotic microbe like yeast product or fungal extract help to stabilize ruminal pH and to activate fiber-degrading bacteria in the rumen, leading to improved fiber digestibility.Dietary fungal or yeast products can enhance rumen fermentation and alter ruminal digestive processes, thus they may improve animal health and energy status in early lactation. Evidence suggests that supplementation of suitable prebiotic provide a substantial benefit to transition cow during immune challenge through improving availability of energy.
7. Aspergillus oryzae: Aspergillus oryzae (AO) extract is considered as a precision prebiotic that enhances digestibility by amplifying the nutrient supply for maximum performance. Aspergillus oryzae extract contains wide variety of polysaccharide and amylase enzymes, which increases rumen function by enhancing fibre digestion and reducing the transient post-prandial drop in ruminal pH. The combined effect of such additive help cows to adapt from high roughage diets to higher concentrate diets especially in the transition cows. An increase in feed digestibility due to the prebiotic would lead to an increase in nutrient absorption. The increase in rumen fermentation and VFA production improve overall energy supply and metabolic profiles. It helps in reduction in rumen lactic acid concentration. by stimulating lactic acid utilizing bacteria and thus minimize nutritional stress due to subacute acidosis. The extra energy made available to the cow support for a healthy transition. Besides, the prebiotic AO supplement decreases the number of cytokines and other inflammatory metabolites and thereby reduce levels of stress and boost immune function.

In recent years, it has gained popularity as a feed supplement for livestock, including dairy cows. Here are some of the potential benefits of Aspergillus oryzae supplementation in dairy cows:

Enhanced Feed Efficiency and Nutrient Utilization: AO fermentation extract is high in alpha‐amylase and cellulase enzyme activities. It also contains significant hemi-celluase, pectinase activities. It will help for degradation of structural and non-structural polysaccharides and thus for maximum utilization of fiber in case of high forage diet and can optimize feed efficiency.

Increased Dry Matter Intake: Improved feed digestibility can encourage cows to eat more, leading to higher dry matter intake and potentially increased milk production.

Increased Milk Production and Quality: Supplementation of AO culture in early lactation cows increased milk yield & efficiency of milk production, nutrient digestibility and feed efficiency. By improving nutrient absorption, Aspergillus oryzae can lead to increased energy availability, potentially boosting milk production.

Modulated Rumen Microbiome: Supplementation of AO fermentation extract in cattle increases the rumen microbiome like ruminal anaerobes, especially cellulolytic bacteria like Ruminococcus albus and thus can improve efficiency of fibre degradation, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and reducing the population of harmful microbes. This creates a healthier environment for digestion.

Reduced Risk of Subacute Ruminal Acidosis (SARA): A healthier rumen environment can help prevent SARA, a metabolic disorder that can negatively impact milk production and cow health.

Improved Heat Stress Tolerance: Supplementation can reduce overall heat stress, which is very beneficial especially during hot weather. 

Conclusion

The prime objectives of transition cow management include increase dry matter intake and energy supply, Prevention or control of ruminal disruption, Prevention of macro & micro mineral deficiencies, minimizinglipid mobilisation disorders and to optimize immune functions.An integrated transition diet should comprise of energy and protein supplement, macro-minerals and DCAD, micro-minerals, and supplementation of suitable prebiotics immunity enhancement.Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract that is rich in non-animal source protein, free-form amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, fibres and other nutrients offer a promising approach to enhancing dairy cow health and productivity. By improving feed utilization, optimizing rumen function, and boosting immunity, these supplements can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient dairy industry.

Dr Jyotika Sangale*, Dr D J Kalita*

Zenex Animal Health India Pvt Ltd