| 39 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Oppertunity Farming The herd is a mixed breed, carefully selected using TOP (Traits Other than Production) criteria to build cows fit for the system. ¤{iU(¤ ĥǹ͔͔ ӨӪө ӪӬӭ өӱөӬ Lɴ̥ʇ̓ ӨӪӱ ӭӮӳ өӨӰө ƍ͔ͣǹ̥͔ ӨӪө Ӫӭӱ ӱӭӨӮ ΈΈΈՐ̛̥˧Ƞʇ˧͔ʇḁ̇Ʉ΄˧ʳ͔ͣʇ˧˗Րȧ˧Ր˗Ω I 1 1 G G 1 " { s ³ q 1 s Q q { ( ³ i U { s 1 1 ( U I 1 ¤ U U i U Ð { G ( Ð q 1 U s Q 1 ( U 1 Q U I Q 1 G 1 1 ( 1 G G U " U 1 s " Ð U s " 1 ¤ 1 ( ( U i Ð Ê 1 U I Q I U s q { 1 q U i f s ( q U i f ¤ { i U ( ¤ ' U ė O U ' 7 U= & 8" U & Y 2U Y K ¤ { ³ " 1 { G s ³ U 1 s ¤ G { 1 s 1 G U " U i q U " { 1 ¤ qUif Q1 iQ Farmers are increasingly turning to probiotics after seeing the impact they can have on calf performance. With Probiotic Revolution’s Calf Xtreme, calves show rapid improvements in digestion and intake of meal, hay, and grass. “In calves with our bugs we get an almost overnight lift in intake when farmers, like Kevin Oppert, shift to once-a-day high-rate milk feeding,” explains Matt Collier of Probiotic Revolution. “When milk spills into the rumen it actually aids digestion, driving a significant increase in hard-feed consumption.” Building on this calf success, Probiotic Revolution developed Rumicell for milking herds, combining yeast and selected strains of bacteria to enhance immunity and support production. Rumicell has been formulated to help with mastitis and somatic cell count challenges, while boosting milk yield. In a 2022 Lincoln University in-vitro fermentation trial using three typical New Zealand diets, Rumicell increased acetate levels by 22%—a strong indicator of improved fibre digestion, higher fat output, and greater protein availability through stimulation of fibre-digesting bacteria. On one 1,500-cow farm, Rumicell was removed from the ration for three weeks. When reintroduced—without any other dietary changes—production lifted by 1,500 litres. Collier says the product has continued to evolve: “By sourcing better strains of bacteria and yeast, we’ve improved Rumicell since the Lincoln trial, while holding the price. We also now have access to a very potent yeast extract from Aleris in Brazil.” That extract, Cultron, has shown superior results in both in-vitro fermentation work and production trials. At a 7g dose, Cultron outperformed a competitor’s yeast extract used at 14g. Derived from the yeast fermentation of maize and sugarcane in Brazil’s ethanol industry, Cultron preserves key metabolites and bioactive components, making it a high-value nutritional source for dairy cows. “Based on the fermentation trial results, Cultron should deliver even stronger milk responses than Rumicell. We’re now running on-farm evaluations, both as a substitute for and an addition to Rumicell. The best option will vary by farm and diet—but our ultimate goal is the same: to improve digestion, strengthen herd health, and drive profitable increases in milk production. E V A L U A T I N G M I L K P R O D U C T I O N R E S P O N S E S I N N E X T G E N E R A T I O N A D D I T I V E S
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