Blog
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Recognising and preventing heat stress in dairy cattle
Heat stress can affect feed intake, fertility, body condition and milk production. One of the biggest challenges is that cows often eat less during hot weather, making it harder to meet their energy requirements and maintain performance.
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Supporting Milk Production During Heat Stress
When temperatures rise, one of the first things dairy farmers notice is a change in feed intake. Research shows that heat stress reduces both dry matter intake and milk yield, with cows’ feeding behaviour altered to help cope with higher temperatures.
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Heat stress and its impact on dairy cows, and the ‘cool nutrient’
The serious topic of heat stress and how you can use rumen-protected fats to reduce the negative effects of heat stress on the health and productivity of your herd.
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Sustainability: The Gap Between Policy and Practice
Position VWFI as a systems-thinking, evidence-led voice by arguing that sustainability frameworks only succeed when they align with practical, farm-level realities, balancing environmental responsibility, productivity and economic resilience.
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C16:0 vs C18:1: Fatty Acid Choice Shapes Milk, Fertility & Efficiency
In this context, ‘fat is fat’ is one of the most persistent oversimplifications. What matters most isn’t fat in general, but the specific fatty acids being supplied.
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2025 Wrapped: Energy, Fertility and Feed Efficiency
Much of the year has been positive for dairy farmers, with a favourable Milk : Feed price ratio driving much-needed profits. However, the global oversupply of milk has seen major pressure on prices and substantial drops in milk prices for the past three
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The Original Rumen-Protected Fat: Why Science Still Sets Megalac Apart
Energy underpins everything in dairy farming, from yield and fertility to cow health. But pushing for performance often comes with a trade-off: more starch means a higher risk of rumen upset.
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Winter Starts in the Ration: Getting Energy Balance Right
Cold weather doesn’t need to look extreme to start costing a cow energy. As temperatures begin to drop, cows quietly divert more energy into staying warm long before farmers see the obvious signs.
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Efficiency Under Pressure: Supporting Herds Through Autumn Challenges
Autumn 2025 is set to be a challenging period for dairy farmers in parts of the UK, as an exceptionally dry summer has left many farms short of usable forage.
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Why Feed Efficiency is the Key to Sustainable Milk Production
Feed efficiency is an important concept to understand for both financial and environmental sustainability on the farm.
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Why Feed Fats? 5 Big Takeaways from the Series
Whether you followed every episode or are just catching up, here are the key takeaways from the series that every dairy farmer should know about feeding fats.
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Feeding for Fertility: How to Avoid Summer Slumps
Summer is an exciting time in the farming calendar. It's a season of abundant growth, vibrant pastures and thriving wildlife. However, behind the scenes, dairy farmers must also contend with a fresh set of seasonal challenges.