Direct-Fed Microbial Supplementation and Health and Performance of Pre- and Postpartum Dairy Cattle: A Field Trial

Abstract

A double-blind field trial was conducted on a commercial dairy to study the effects of feeding a direct-fed microbial (DFM) product consisting of 2 strains of Enterococcus faecium plus Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast on prepartum and postpartum performance of Holstein cows. Treatments consisted of the normal pre- and post-fresh TMR supplemented with the DFM (2 g/cow per d) or a placebo. Treatments started approximately 10 d prepartum and continued until about 23 d in milk (DIM). A total of 366 Holstein cows were enrolled in 1 of 2 placebo groups or 2 DFM-supplemented groups. Groups were enrolled consecutively, starting with the placebo treatment. Sample size was limited to 4 groups because the cooperating dairy prematurely terminated the study due to increased health problems in one of the groups. Blood samples were taken during the prefresh period between 2 and 10 d prior to calving and at weekly intervals from 3 to 23 DIM. Blood concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids before calving and β-hydroxy-butyrate after calving were not affected by treatment. Supplementation with the DFM product increased milk fat percentage for the first lactation cows and increased milk protein percentage for the second and greater lactation cows during the first 85 DIM. Second-lactation cows fed the DFM product received fewer antibiotic treatments before 85 DIM than cows receiving the placebo. This validated the dairy producer's concern that cows consuming one of the diets (revealed to be the placebo diet after the study was completed) were experiencing more health problems. Most measures of milk yield were numerically increased by supplementation with the DFM product. However, differences in milk yield were not significant. Key covariates for main study outcomes included milk yield in the previous (first) lactation, body condition score prior to calving, days spent in the maternity pen, and stocking density of the pre-fresh pen.