Supplementing a -based direct-fed microbial improves feed efficiency in lactating dairy cows.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding a -based direct-fed microbial () on performance and nutrient digestibility of lactating dairy cows. Seventy-six lactating (42 ± 6 days in milk []) Holstein-Friesian primiparous and multiparous cows were enrolled to a 16-wk experiment. Cows were blocked by lactation number and DIM and within blocks, assigned to 1 of the 2 treatments: 1) basal partial-mixed ration () without DFM addition ( = 38; ) or 2) basal PMR with the addition of 3 g/head/d of a DFM containing 809 and 810 ( = 38; BOVACILLUS, Chr.

Effect of dietary seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) supplementation on milk mineral concentrations, transfer efficiency, and hematological parameters in lactating Holstein cows.

This study investigated the effect of feeding seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) to dairy cows on milk mineral concentrations, feed-to-milk mineral transfer efficiencies, and hematological parameters. Lactating Holstein cows (n = 46) were allocated to 1 of 2 diets (n = 23 each): (1) control (CON; without seaweed) and (2) seaweed (SWD; replacing 330 g/d of dried corn meal in CON with 330 g/d dried A. nodosum).