Although intensive feeding helps obtain top performance in dairy cows, it also takes its toll. Ruminal disorders, a strained immune system and elevated somatic cell counts frequently follow hot on the heels of feeding high concentrate diets. Therefore, high-yielding dairy cows need the help of Anta®Phyt. The plant secondary compounds in Anta®Phyt have antimicrobial and immune-modulatory effects, which positively influence health parameters and performance of dairy cows.
Previous studies have shown the positive effect of Anta®Phyt on somatic cell count and milk yield. A field test to prove the efficacy of Anta®Phyt under practical conditions was recently carried out on dairy cows with elevated somatic cell counts.
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Successful reduction of somatic cell counts
The field trial that Dr. Eckel recently presented at the BOKU online symposium confirms the efficiency of Anta®Phyt in reducing somatic cell counts and improving the performance of cows with elevated somatic cell counts.
During the treatment period, the quantity of milk as well as the milk fat and protein content improved. This resulted in 2.01 kg more energy corrected milk per cow per day in the treatment period (Table 1).
Table 1: Milk yield and composition
In addition, the proportion of cows with a somatic cell count < 100,000 cells/ml increased from 38% to 49% while that of cows with a somatic cell count > 100,000 and > 300,000 cells/ml decreased by 18% and 17% respectively (Fig. 1).
Figure 1: Comparison of somatic cell count classes in the control and treatment period
Conclusion
The results show that Anta®Phyt has a positive effect on the udder health and productivity of dairy cows with elevated somatic cell counts. So it’s time to take action and get herds with elevated somatic cell counts back on track with Anta®Phyt.
About the study
The feeding trial was conducted on a German dairy farm with 85 lactating Simmental cows. The cows’ somatic cell count averaged 257,000 cells/ml prior to the field test. The trial lasted three months and included a control period without treatment (August 2020) and a treatment period (September and October 2020). During the treatment period, the entire herd received a dosage of 10 g Anta®Phyt per cow per day in a premix that was part of the TMR. During the trial, milk yield, milk quality (fat and protein content, as well as somatic cell count) and energy corrected milk were monitored.
