Novonesis has introduced a new feed additive for dairy cows on the European market.

Novonesis has launched Bovacillus™ – described by the company as the first approved Bacillus probiotic for dairy cows in the EU. The product draws on five years of experience from markets outside Europe and is supported by results from nine peer-reviewed publications and 12 peer-reviewed mode-of-action studies.

Bovacillus™ is a dual-strain probiotic that, according to Novonesis, acts simultaneously in the rumen and the intestines by supporting the gut barrier and the immune system against harmful bacteria. The company states that the product improves fibre digestibility and feed efficiency by 3.7 per cent, and that trials have shown an increase of one kilogram of milk per cow per day – equivalent to 37 grams of additional protein, 31 grams of additional fat and 44 grams of additional lactose.

The product is supplied in dry form and can, according to Novonesis, withstand temperatures of up to 95°C, making it suitable for use in both liquid and dry feed – including pellets, premixes, mineral blocks and TMR blends. Feed typically accounts for 60–70 per cent of total production costs in dairy farming, and Novonesis highlights improved feed efficiency as a central element of the product’s value.

By Maja Løvstrup
Photo: Zhao Yangjun / Unsplash