Novonesis launches Bovacillus for dairy cow productivity
Novonesis has launched Bovacillus, a probiotic formulated for cows in milk. The company describes it as Europe’s first Bacillus probiotic developed specifically for lactating dairy cattle and says it is intended to support digestive health, nutrient use and production efficiency.
Feed commonly represents about 60–70% of milk-production costs, according to information accompanying the launch. Novonesis said higher prices for grains, oilseed meals and other feed inputs have increased the importance of obtaining more production from each kilogram of feed consumed by a herd.
The product is designed to act in both the rumen and the intestines. Novonesis says it supports fibre digestion and gut health, helping convert feed nutrients into milk. The company reports an increase of about 1kg of milk per cow per day and a 3.7% improvement in feed efficiency. It also says Bovacillus can support the output of milk protein, fat and lactose.
Reported results may differ between farms, the company notes, depending on factors including cattle breed, ration design, stage of lactation, herd health and management practices. The commercial effect also depends on the price of the supplement and on local feed and milk prices. Independent assessment under different feeding conditions is relevant to evaluating performance.
Bovacillus can tolerate temperatures of up to 95°C, according to Novonesis. This allows it to be used in pelleted cattle feed, premixes, mineral blocks, mash feed, liquid feed and total mixed rations. The heat tolerance is intended to preserve the probiotic’s use during feed processing, where high temperatures can affect some microbial additives.
Novonesis said the product had already accumulated five years of commercial use and about 1.5m users globally before its European launch. The company also cited nine peer-reviewed publications and 12 studies examining its mode of action as part of the supporting evidence.
The launch comes as biological and microbiome-focused feed additives receive greater attention in livestock nutrition. For dairy producers, improved feed utilisation could reduce the feed required for a given amount of milk, while the reported effects on milk composition may affect processing and product value. Novonesis said the product is aimed at combining animal-health support with more efficient use of feed in lactating cows.
