Wheat Grain for Transition Dairy Cows: A Multifaceted Abet or an Intriguing Peril?

Abstract

This editorial seeks to appraise metabolic feasibility of feeding wheat grain (WG) based rations to dairy cows, especially during transition period or few weeks around calving. A major commercial hypothesis is that WG in transition diets can help ease periparturient stresses by increasing rumen microbial protein synthesis, inducing mild acidosis and improving calcium dynamics, attenuating splanchnic metabolic pressures, and considerably overcoming immune challenges through stimulating dry matter intake.