Research in practice

Recover smart drink

Research in collaboration with Van Hall Larenstein (University of Applied Sciences),
executed by Lisa Miskotte, february – july 2022

For Topro Animal Health and our partners it is crucial to support our Topro products with research in practice. From practical experience on the farm we know that our products are effective, but what do we actually measure?

Research method

In this trial, 102 dairy cows participated, of which 51 were assigned to the control group (no Recover), and the other 51 animals to the test group (with Recover). The study was performed on 7 different dairy farms in the Dutch provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel. All farms applied robotic milking. The cows in the test group received Topro Recover through voluntary intake, immediately after calving.

Recover | results

The study revealed that 93% of the cows in the test group fully drank the Recover smart drink on offer. The cows that did not drink all the Recover did not have access to the drink in the first 15 minutes after calving. From day 1 until day 7 in lactation, rumination activity was higher in cows that ingested all the Recover offered compared to the cows in the control group. On days 2 and 3, the difference was statistically significant*. Also, a trend in feed intake activity was seen: In the first 7 weeks in milk, the cows in the Recover group tended to spend more time eating than the cows in the control group. No consistent differences in milk yield were seen in the first weeks, but from the fourth week in lactation the cows that received Recover produced more milk than the control animals. The difference amounts to 1.5 kg of milk per cow per day from the sixth week in lactation.

Recover | conclusions

research shows that Topro Recover not only is very palatable, but it also results in more rumination activity in the first week after calving, and increased feed intake and milk yield up to the eighth week in lactation. It can be concluded that Topro Recover leads to a statistically significant increase in rumination activity, and an increase in feed intake activity and milk yield. A higher feed intake positively affects the energy supply, thereby decreasing the risk of transition diseases (like ketosis). Topro Recover, therefore, contributes to a better lactation start after calving. This benefits cow health and milk yield, and will eventually contribute to a longer productive lifespan of the dairy cow.