Lactobacillus plantarum GB LP-1 as a direct-fed microbial for neonatal calves.

Direct-fed microbial feed additives with potential to enhance growth performance, gut health, and immunity have gained considerable popularity in neonatal calf production. Lactobacillus plantarum GB LP-1 (LP) produced by a proprietary fermentation process could be a viable direct-fed microbial feed for neonatal calves. The hypothesis was that feeding LP may ease transitioning from milk replacer (MR) to calf starter (CS) by improving gut health and appetite, while minimizing health challenges from pathogens and stress to improve growth performance.

Lactational response of early-lactation Holstein cows fed starch or floury corn silage.

The study objective was to evaluate the lactational performance of early-lactation dairy cows fed a total mixed ration (TMR) based on corn silage produced from a standard starch hybrid compared with 2 floury starch hybrids. Twenty-one (6 primiparous and 21 multiparous) high-producing, early-lactation Holstein cows were blocked by calving date and parity and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 experimental corn silages from wk 4 through wk 12 postpartum using a randomized complete block design with wk 3 as a covariate. The Dekalb blend (STA; Monsanto Company, St.