Additives and Supplements- Investment or Expense

Additives and Supplements- Investment or Expense

If the milk prices are average/low and the feed prices are high, the first thing to go out of Rations are the additives or the supplements. I have long been an advocate of additives in Ration if can be taken out, should not have been added in the first place. Of course, the cost of milk production is important but animal health and longevity must not be compromised. One thing is to be remembered always, don't ever ever try to lose milk or cut down the production, two reasons, whatever you are getting is after the animal's body maintenance expenses and the more you get, the cheaper it is. Second, Lost milk never gets back. You might have to wait for the next lactation and who knows even you attain the peak there or not.

 So here is a list of additives that are highly recommended in Rations and then there are which could be used as well. But first of all it is important to have the cows grouped based upon stage and level of production to decide who gets what.

1. Far Off dry cows: Monensin, Organic Trace Minerals, Vitamins, Silage inoculants, Anionic Products(Can be, depends on diet and ongoing research)
2. Close up Dry cows: Monensin, Organic Trace Minerals, Vitamins A, D3 and E, Silage inoculants, Can be used- Some B Vitamins(folic and B12), Choline, Anionic products depending upon diet DCAD.
3. Fresh Cows: Rumen Buffers, Monensin, Yeast products, Organic Trace Minerals, Vitamins, Rumen protected Niacin, Choline, biotin, Silage inoculants. Can be used- Glucogenic precursors like Calcium Propionate, Propylene Glycol etc.
4. High Producers/Mid lactation: Rumen Buffers, Monensin, Yeast products, Organic Trace Minerals, Vitamins and Silage inoculants
5. Late Lactation/Low Producers: Monensin and silage inoculants

For selecting a product, no 1 priority should be the research and proven efficacy of the product.

Second you should know your return on Investment. Just spending can be an expense not an investment.

The most mportant thing while using the additives or supplemets is using the right doses. Underdosing may save you money on paper but shall be costing you money in reality. For example an underdose of Rumen buffer like Sodium bicarbonate is of no use as lower doses than 0.75%  of total diet dry matter shall not have a beneficial effect at all.

There are many more products available in the market, but the research and return on investment should be your criteria for selecting those.