Feed Additives for Dairy Cows

Feed additives are sold to do many things, from steadier rumen function to better feed efficiency. Some earn their cost on some farms. Others do not.

Key points

Define the problem before looking for a product
Ask for independent evidence and a way to measure results
Run a simple, fair on-farm test
Keep records and check feed regulations and buyer rules
Review additives regularly and drop those that do not pay

What counts as an additive

An additive is anything added to the basic ration in small amounts to serve a particular purpose. That can include minerals, vitamins, buffers, yeast products, fiber digestion aids, flavors, binders and more.

Rules differ by product type and by country and state. Check with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and your state feed control office if you are unsure whether a product is allowed in your situation.

Keep the term in perspective. Many additives are sold as nutrition insurance, and some are simply unnecessary when the base ration already meets the herd's needs.

Start with the problem, not the product

Good decisions begin with a clearly stated problem: loose manure, low butterfat, slow transition cow recovery, heat stress, or poor feed efficiency. Then ask whether management, forage quality or the base ration is the cause before looking at an additive.

An additive can sometimes help at the margins. It rarely rescues a ration that is out of balance or a barn that is crowded and hot.

Keep supplier paperwork, labels and safety data sheets in one place. If a buyer, inspector or certifier asks what you have been feeding, you can answer quickly and with documents.

Questions to ask before buying

Sales representatives are often helpful, but their job is to sell. A nutritionist who is independent of the product, or your extension specialist, can help you weigh the claims.

Ask for the evidence in your kind of herd, ration and region, not just on any cow.

What is the stated purpose, and how will we measure whether it worked?
Is there independent research in dairy cattle, and was it done under conditions like mine?
What does it cost per cow per day, and what return needs to show up to break even?
Is it allowed under feed regulations and under my milk buyer or certification program?
How will we stop it if it does not work?

Testing on your own farm

If you decide to try one, set it up so you can learn something. Pick a clear start date and track the numbers you care about before, during and after: milk, components, intake, manure, health events.

Where possible, compare groups or periods fairly. Changing several things at once makes results impossible to read. Ask your nutritionist to help design a trial that is simple enough to complete.

Remember that sales claims about animal performance are not the same as proof. A sound recommendation should come with a way to check it on your farm.

Safety, records and your buyer

Follow label and manufacturer directions for storage, mixing and handling. Some products are dusty or irritating, so use the protective gear recommended on the product's safety data sheet.

Keep records of every additive: product name, supplier, lot, date started, amount fed and who approved it. Some milk buyers and certification programs, including organic programs, have their own rules on what can be fed, so check with them first.

Cost, return and honest accounting

Work out what an additive costs per cow per day and for the whole group over a month. Then ask what change would be needed in milk, components, health or feed use to cover that cost.

Be honest about what else changed during the trial. A warm spell ending, a new forage cutting or a change in staff can all shift performance and get credited to the product.

If a product pays, keep using it. If it cannot be shown to pay, drop it. Ask your nutritionist or an extension specialist to help you look at the numbers without relying only on the supplier's summary.

Common mistakes

Adding a product to fix a problem that is really about bunk space, forage or cow comfort is common. Another is stacking several additives with overlapping claims. A third is giving up too early or never checking at all and just continuing because it feels like it might be helping.

Review each additive at least once a year with your nutritionist and drop what you cannot show is paying.

When to get help: Talk with your dairy nutritionist before adding or changing any additive. If cows are sick, do not try to treat them through the feed bunk; call your veterinarian, and follow label and veterinarian withdrawal times exactly for any treated animal.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

More in Nutrition, Feeding & Water

← Push-Up Frequency and Feed Intake Probiotics in Dairy Diets →