Subject: Bicar®Z effects on milk yield in early lactation
Analyze the effects of Bicar®Z on milk yield in early lactation (first 100-120 days) and evaluate if there is any interest, from an economic and zootechnical point of view, in producing marginal milk.
Conditions of the study: a 6-month trial on 160 dairy cows
- Field study carried out in 2017 on 160 lactating Holstein dairy cows
- Study led by Daniele Castellani – Veterinary and animal nutrition consultant
- A 6-month trial done with 2 groups of high-performing cows with similar health and zootechnical conditions and yields.
No cow was given sodium bicarbonate during the 10 months prior to the trial. During the trial, 250 g of Bicar®Z were added per cow to their daily ration.
Herd A & B - control group: no addition of Bicar®Z to daily ration
Herd A & B - test group: addition of 250 gr of Bicar®Z to daily ration
TABLE 1 : Yield, Fat Content and Protein Content based on the number of controls done in herd
Control Group: Performances at 1rst, 2nd and 3rd controls during the 6 months prior to Bicar®Z introduction
Test Group: Performances at 1rst, 2nd and 3rd controls during the 6 months of the trial with Bicar®Z addition
TABLE 2 : Yield, Fat Content and Protein Content based on the number of controls done in herd B
Control Group: Performances at 1rst, 2nd and 3rd controls during the 6 months prior to Bicar®Z introduction
Test Group: Performances at 1rst, 2nd and 3rd controls during the 6 months of the trial with Bicar®Z addition
Figures of Herd A + B in the table below:
TABLE 3 : Yield, Fat Content and Protein Content based on the number of controls done in herds A and B taken together
Control Group: Performances at 1rst, 2nd and 3rd controls during the 6 months prior to Bicar®Z introduction
Test Group: Performances at 1rst, 2nd and 3rd controls during the 6 months of the trial with Bicar®Z addition
Results
Performances during the trial period were checked 3 times and results indicate that the average daily milk production of the herd that had 250 gr of Bicar®Z added to their daily diet increased significantly by 4,9 % (+1,82 kg/ day) compared to the herd that had no Bicar®Z added to their diet (significant difference, p<0,01).
Control group (without sodium bicarbonate) vs. Test group (with sodium bicarbonate):
When performances were checked at peak lactation (2° check), results show that the herd that had Bicar®Z administered, produced significantly more milk with regard to the herd that had no Bicar®Z administered (40,7 kg of milk vs. 37,8 kg of milk; significant difference, p<0,01).
Conclusions: what can you learn from this study?
Performances observed during the trial period clearly show that with the addition of Bicar®Z, daily milk yield at the initial stage of lactation has increased by 1,82 kg compared to the performances observed without Bicar®Z addition.
These new results prove that, even with already good zootechnical and health performances, milk production at the beginning of lactation significantly enhances when Bicar®Z is added on a daily basis, and are fully in line with the technical and economic production of marginal milk.