Student Case Presentation
Effect of maternal bovine appeasing substance versus a placebo administered at calving or prior to transport on milk yield
| Date/Time: |
8/27/2026 2:45 PM
|
| Presenter: |
Rachel Antonutti |
| Veterinary School: |
MN |
Abstract:
The objective was to assess the effect of maternal bovine appeasing substance (MBAS; FerAppease, Fera B&D) administered following calving (trial 1) or prior to early lactation transport (trial 2) on milk yield. Cluster-randomized, double-blinded trials were performed on a dairy in Arizona in summer of 2025. In both trials, cows received MBAS (TRT) or a placebo (mineral oil; CON), as a 15 mL topical application - 5 mL behind the poll and 10 mL above the muzzle. Treatment assignment was randomized by post-calving pen in trial 1 and transport destination in trial 2. Cow-level and weekly milk yield data from the first 4 weeks in milk (trial 1) and through 9 weeks post-transport (trial 2) were extracted from herd management software. Analyses were performed using linear mixed-effects models, retaining relevant covariates and stratified by parity (trial 1) and by parity and transport distance/modality (trial 2). First parity TRT cows in trial 1 produced 1.1 lb/week (95% CI: -0.1, 2.3) more than CON (P = 0.08) and 1.5 lb/week (95% CI: 0.3, 2.6) more for second parity TRT cows (P = 0.01). In trial 2, first parity TRT cows transported on foot produced 1.1 lb/week (95% CI: -0.3, 2.5) more than CON (P = 0.12) and those transported via truck produced 1.2 lb/week (95% CI: -0.5, 2.9; P = 0.18) more. For longer transport distances, first and second parity TRT cows produced 1.2 lb/d (95% CI: 3.3, 5.7; P = 0.6) and 0.2 lb/week (95% CI: -1.9, 1.6; P = 0.86), respectively, more than CON. Administration of MBAS improved production post-calving and in short distance transport, although no benefit was shown for longer transport.
