Probiotics and Prebiotics Could Help Reduce Somatic Cell Counts in Late Lactation

According to Probiotic Revolution, the answer may lie with probiotics and prebiotics.

It says these can help counter the typical decline in milk production and the rise in somatic cell counts that occur in late lactation.

Even when summer pasture growth is strong, overall pasture quality usually drops as summer grasses and dead material accumulate, it says.

"This natural seasonal decline in production can be made worse - and cow condition can suffer - when rotation lengths are extended and cows are pushed to consume lower-quality feed.

"As milk production falls, somatic cell counts tend to increase as well.

"A practical way to reduce these issues is to use a low-cost additive that boosts the metabolizable energy (ME) of pasture and silage by stimulating fibre-digesting bacteria in the rumen."

Probiotic Revolution says it's now importing Cultron, a prebiotic yeast extract.

It claims that because Cultron is produced from the fermentation of sugarcane and maize in ethanol production, it contains eight times more metabolites than yeast extracts derived from the brewing industry. This richer nutrient profile more effectively stimulates beneficial rumen microbes, including fibre-digesting bacteria.

In previous autumn seasons, Probiotic Revolution relied mainly on high doses of live bacteria to lower somatic cell counts.

With the addition of Cultron, farmers now have access to a stronger cost-effective additive to help maintain autumn milk production, it says.

Cultron is manufactured by Brazilian company Aleris.

Since its inception in 2012, Aleris has produced the new yeast extract.

Probiotic Revolution says that Cultron has made big inroads as a nutritional supplement in Asia, Europe and North America and it is now making this available for dairy herds in New Zealand.