Last month, Techna India gathered over 50 feed mill owners, nutritionists, and industry professionals from Punjab and Haryana at the Hyatt Regency in Ludhiana for a seminar dedicated to dairy cow nutrition and feed cost management.
The technical session, led by Techna dairy nutrition expert Antoine Weinachter, focused on two main topics from the event program:
New research on digestibility and fatty acid profile on dairy diet
Antoine Weinachter shared recent findings on how diet composition directly impacts cow digestion and milk performance:
- High-starch diets and feed intake: Excess starch can drop rumen pH and disrupt fermentation, which can lead to lower dry matter intake (DMI) and reduced nutrient delivery to the udder.
- Rumen health: Lower pH levels cause calcium salts to dissociate and release unsaturated fatty acids, hurting the bacteria responsible for digesting fiber.
- Impact on milk fat: Starch-heavy rations favor the ruminal trans-10 biohydrogenation pathway, producing trans-10 C18:1, a compound that slows down fat synthesis in the udder.
- Tailored fat supplementation: Fatty acid blends should be adjusted according to the cow’s lactation stage and yield target rather than using standard mixes.
- Balancing fatty acids with starch: Keeping a balanced ratio of C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1 is critical, especially during early lactation and for cows producing over 50 kg of milk per day. High-starch rations require extra monitoring.
How to optimise feed cost with TECHNA additives
To help feed manufacturers handle volatile raw material prices in India, Techna detailed practical formulation techniques to control or reduce feed costs without dropping animal performance:
- Alternative protein sources: How to substitute traditional ingredients with local protein alternatives while effectively managing anti-nutritional factors (ANFs).
- Additive strategies: Using Techna functional additives to improve nutrient absorption and make formulas more cost-effective under tight raw material markets.
With ingredient costs putting pressure on feed producers across India, Techna India continues to work alongside local feed mills to provide practical formulation support, helping them remain competitive while maintaining herd productivity.
About TECHNA
Founded in 1964 in France, Techna is an independent expert in precision animal nutrition and natural health solutions, operating in over 50 countries. Established in 2022 and headquartered in Mumbai, Techna India Private Limited assists local feed manufacturers and integrators across the poultry, dairy, swine, and aquaculture sectors with nutritional specialties, formulation expertise, and technical support.
For more information, visit: www.groupe-techna.com