Managing peak milk production: how to optimise it?

A new mineral approach to early lactation

Since 2005, the CCPA GROUP has been studying the links between animal health and nutrition. This major research project, known as the AXION® programme, has led to a better understanding of the inflammatory and oxidative stress phenomena that lead to production under-performance in livestock farms, and in particular in high production animals – those most sensitive to oxidative stress and inflammation.

Early lactation, a high-risk period

Thanks to the AXISCALE® Nutrition-Health diagnostic tool developed by DELTAVIT, which measures indicators of oxidative stress and inflammation in livestock, it has been shown that the period before and after calving is particularly at risk, especially the start of lactation. The needs of a dairy cow producing 40 litres of milk at peak are, on average, multiplied by 5 or even 6 (energy, nitrogen, calcium), even though its intake capacity is (only) multiplied by 2.5! This nutritional deficit leads to a loss of weight and body reserves, which in turn puts a heavy strain on the rumen and liver. Dairy cows are also more vulnerable to pathologies, with no less than 75% of the herd’s pathologies occurring during the first month of lactation. However, milk production at peak is decisive for milk production over the entire lactation period, since: + 1 litre at peak = + 230 litres over the entire lactation (CCPA survey, 2013). This clearly shows the importance of focusing on this period.

Inflammation during calving

During calving, the dairy cow, particularly as a result of nutritional deficiencies, experiences severe inflammation. This inflammation results in a diversion of nutrients (for the synthesis of inflammatory proteins), a reduction in the mammary gland’s capacity for synthesis, a drop in consumption and damage to liver cells.

After analysing these phenomena, the CCPA GROUP’s R&D team selected some interesting nutrients: trace elements, vitamins, polyphenols as well as plant extracts – one of which has been patented (FR 14/51501) – to create a specific Axion® Start core which is incorporated into the GALAPHOS Axion® Start mineral feed for early lactation.

Various field trials have shown a production gain of up to 1,000 litres of milk/cow/year by optimising lactation start-up.