For dairy cows with a high milk yield, a good start to lactation is of decisive importance if lactation is to continue successfully. The high milk output that is desired depends on making the best possible start, and the starting phase is also crucial for the avoidance of metabolic disorders which can lead to decreased yield or even to conditions requiring clinical treatment. In this connection, the feed supplied to cows in the preparatory and transitional phases, as well as at the start of lactation itself, is an important factor. New strategies and nutritional approaches can support the best possible start of a new lactation phase, above all when a cow is lactating for the first time.

Lutrell provides the best possible support for the start of lactation by lowering the cow’s energy expenditure. This is achieved by reducing the fat content of the milk. Milk fat is an important energy carrier, so the cow’s loss of energy can be significantly influenced by controlling the milk fat content.

A practical study involving 25 farms which used Lutrell for at least 4 months in the feed given to fresh cows has shown that the product achieves efficient results in practice.

Diagram 1: Effect of Lutrell as a practical feed supplement on the mean milk yield of the herds of 25 farms, based on examination of the milk yield by the federal state agricultural authorities, with use of 50g Lutrell per cow per day in the transitional phase and in the first 80-100 days of lactation.

In practical application, when Lutrell is fed to the cows the milk fat content falls by 10% on average, while at the same time the milk yield rises by a mean of 11.5%. The protein content may fall by 0.1% (absolute) at the max.

On the basis of these effects it becomes possible to calculate the financial benefits of the use of Lutrell. Table 1 shows that even assuming a milk price of just 23 cents to the kilo, additional profits amounting to a good 100 euros per cow per year can be achieved, after deduction of the cost for Lutrell.

Table 1: Financial benefits of use of Lutrell in practical conditions at a low milk price level