Animal welfare is a growing concern from a farm profitability point of view and regarding carbon emissions of animal produce. Carbon emission/kg of milk produced by a cow varies depending on efficiency linked with the metabolic health of a cow during the transition phase and early lactation. Hence, focusing on improving metabolic health can significantly support sustainable dairy production.
The culprit of hypocalcemia is in fact the diets offered to cows in the EMENA region since the majority of diets in this region are cationic. When diets were made acidogenic with NutriCAB™ (as part of Kemin's formulating ruminant health program for pre-calving cows), field experience from different farms clearly showed that the incidence of retained fetal membranes was reduced by 81 percent, metritis by 82.1 percent, mastitis by 53.3 percent, and displaced abomasum was reduced by 80 percent. The reduction of subclinical metabolic disorders improves peak milk production and lactation persistence. When pre-calving diets were turned acidogenic with NutriCAB, there was a 5.9% increase in peak milk production. Such efficiency improvement in metabolic health is needed for improved animal welfare with sustainable dairy production.
To reduce incidences of subclinical ketosis, improving liver functioning is important. Choline supplementation in rumen-protected and intestinally available form routinely increases VLDL secretion from the liver. This increases the export of hepatic fat and results in less hepatic fat concentration and a reduced risk of fatty liver and subclinical ketosis. If rumen-protected Choline is fed pre- and postpartum, it reduces the risk of clinical and subclinical metabolic disorders and overall morbidity.
Kemin has launched its second generation in encapsulated Choline chloride solution, i.e., CholiGEM™ with 60% Choline chloride in encapsulated form. With more than double the concentration and triple the bioavailability, CholiGEM results in 2-3 times lower carbon footprint than competitors’ products. A lower inclusion level of CholiGEM in the diet helps in two to three times less product needed for transport means lesser carbon footprints. In this way, CholiGEM contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions.
