The process
The research was conducted on 72 high-yielding dairy cows with 124 days in lactation and an average of 37,3 kg measuring milk. The trial started with a 3-week familiarisation period following a 6-week trial period. The cows were milked twice a day and were housed in a Cubicle parlour which was naturally ventilated.
What did they test?
|
Group |
Cows |
WYC |
LWS |
|
1 - control |
12 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 – WYC-Low |
12 |
6 |
0 |
|
3 – WYC-High |
12 |
12 |
0 |
|
4 – LWS-Low |
12 |
0 |
6 |
|
5 – LWS-High |
12 |
0 |
12 |
|
6 – WYC-LWS |
12 |
6 |
6 |
The rations
|
Group/Feedstuff |
CON |
WYC-L |
WYC-H |
LWS-L |
LWS-H |
WYC-LWS |
|
WYC |
0,0% |
5,8% |
11,9% |
0,0% |
0,0% |
5,8% |
|
LWS |
0,0% |
0,0% |
0,0% |
5,6% |
11,0% |
5,5% |
|
Maize silage |
23,5% |
23,3% |
23,9% |
24,0% |
23,6% |
23,4% |
|
Grass silage |
25,5% |
25,3% |
25,9% |
26,0% |
25,6% |
25,4% |
|
Salt |
0,1% |
0,1% |
0,1% |
0,1% |
0,1% |
0,1% |
|
Barley straw |
3,2% |
3,1% |
3,2% |
3,2% |
3,2% |
3,1% |
|
Limestone |
0,2% |
0,2% |
0,2% |
0,2% |
0,2% |
0,2% |
|
Soybeanmeal 46 + 2% urea |
3,4% |
3,4% |
3,5% |
3,5% |
3,4% |
3,4% |
|
Rapeseed meal |
8,3% |
4,1% |
0,0% |
5,9% |
4,1% |
2,5% |
|
Rolled wheat |
11,5% |
9,0% |
6,7% |
6,7% |
3,3% |
5,7% |
|
Concentrate feed |
24,3% |
25,7% |
24,8% |
25,0% |
25,4% |
24,9% |
|
Total |
100,0% |
100,0% |
100,0% |
100,0% |
100,0% |
100,0% |
Research findings
Distillery Syrup supports high-performing dairy cows while offering significant cost savings in the feed ration. The trial showed that:
✅ There were no significant differences in milk production, fat, protein, lactose, or cell count when feeding 12 kg of Distillery Syrup per cow per day compared to the control group.
✅ The cows remained calm and content.
✅ The ration had a good consistency—not too soft or wet.
✅ The milk production was very good and remained good throughout the trial.
|
Result
|
CON |
WYC-L |
WYC-H |
LWS-L |
LWS-H |
WYC-LWS |
Difference |
|
Total dry matter intake (kg DM/d) |
26,2 |
25,9 |
26,5 |
25,7 |
25,4 |
26,3 |
No |
|
Milk production (kg/d) |
36,3 |
36,3 |
36,6 |
36,3 |
36,5 |
37,6 |
No
|
|
Milk fat % |
4,10 |
4,21 |
3,94 |
4,01 |
4,08 |
4,17 |
No |
|
Milk protein % |
3,64b |
3,58 |
3,58 |
3,57 |
3,53a |
3,55 |
X |
|
Lactose % |
4,58 |
4,55 |
4,6 |
4,57 |
4,57 |
4,58 |
No |
|
Urea (mg/dl) |
23,7b |
22,0 |
21,2a |
23,6b |
24,0b |
23,3 |
X |
|
Cell count (*1000/ml) |
33 |
42 |
25 |
41 |
34 |
32 |
No |
"The research also tackled long-held perceptions, particularly in mature markets like the Netherlands. There’s this idea that Distillery syrups impact animal performance. It’s not true. The trial proved that we can now go beyond the three or four kilos per day limit that farmers had in their minds."
Economic benefit
