Gut Health Vital Before A Fresh Cow Calves

Research is revealing how important gut health is to the long-term success of livestock, especially dairy cows. And that’s very true for fresh cows that have yet to have their first calf. Dr. Kevin Dill, Director of Dairy Technical Innovation at Purina Animal Nutrition, noted that diet is so important in promoting good gut health before the calf comes, preparing the cow to support lactation. He said that typically doesn’t mean a massive change by the farmer, but rather a new focus on specific details.

“But as you think about how energy is partitioned and mobilized, if they are, or, since they will be removing body reserves to help support that early lactation period, but also we have to adapt the microbial population in that rumen," Dill said. "We’re better off doing that pre-calving, and that's why we have the Steam Up diet, the Close Up diet, whatever you might want to call it, to prepare those rumen microbial populations to support that greater nutrient and particularly energy demand post calving.”

Diets Must Be Balanced

Dill added most of these changes are not difficult to incorporate.

"Most producers and nutritionists they understand the importance of that pre fresh diet being balanced for the specific dry matter intake that's going to occur during that phase and then also optimize, if you will, protein and energy portions along as supporting along with supporting as [Dr. Katie Bradley] indicated the calcium magnesium, the macro minerals, trace minerals and vitamins to support that Physiology and the needs of that animal at that stage,” Dill said.