For a long time, milk has always been an important source of high quality protein, calcium. As a result, milk appeared on the table of thousands of families.

Since living standards getting higher, there is a higher requirement for quality of milk. A good cup of nutritious and safe milk comes from healthy dairy cows, and healthy dairy cows are dependent on balanced nutrition. The findings of scientists’ extensive researches show that β-carotene has a positive effect on the fertility and health of cows. 

Carotene, which got its name from the rich red-orange pigment in carrots, has three isomers – α, β, and γ, among which β carotene is the most abundant and important in plants and is the most widespread and stable natural pigment in nature.

β-carotene enhances cow fertility

The fertility of dairy cows is closely related to their milk production and can be enhanced by β-carotene, which is found in vegetables, green forage, and some other plants. Cows cannot synthesize β-carotene and have to get it externally through the diet. A number of studies have found that in intensive large-scale farms where little fresh pasture can be accessed, adding the right amount of β-carotene to the daily diet of cows can significantly boost their fertility, which can be shown in the following ways:

Supplementing β-carotene to the cows’ feed can increase the concentration of β-carotene in cows’ blood, improve oocyte quality, animate early luteal activity, increase ovation rates, and raise progesterone levels, thus improving pregnancy rates and embryo quality and reducing pregnancy loss and carving intervals in cows.

Higher reproductive performance in dairy cows means shorter calving intervals, better herd structure, and higher milk yield, which is essential for the farms to lower cost and achieve sustainable development.

β-carotene improves cow health

With the advances of farming technologies, the average milk yield of Chinese cows has increased from 4.8 tons/year in 2008 to 8.3 tons/year in 2020, reaching the level of developed European countries. The dramatic boost in milk production over the past 15 years has placed a heavy burden on the cows’ physical conditions, causing continued oxidative stress and rising incidence of mastitis and hysteritis.

As the most abundant antioxidant in nature, β-carotene can be added to cows’ daily diet to help them resist oxidation, boost immunity, and lower the incidence of mastitis and hysteritis. Adding the right amount of β-carotene to the feed of cows in late pregnancy can increase the concentration of β-carotene in their colostrum, and an early supplement of β-carotene can help reduce the incidence of diarrhea and pneumonia in calves and improve their survival rate.

The healthy growth and production of dairy cows is key to the sustainable development of the industry. With its probiotic carotene products, NHU is helping to improve the reproductive performance of cows and the operation of high-quality farms. We expect to drive the industry forward and bring people healthy and nutritious milk products through our β-carotene solution. We believe that an efficient nutrition system is conducive to the reform and innovation of the livestock industry, to which we stand ready to contribute.

From farm to fork, we are always here for healthier and more nutritious food.