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Use of Posilac
Posilac prevents mammary cell death in dairy cattle. As such, it does not
increase milk production on a day-to-day basis, but rather prevents milk
production from decreasing over the long term, thus resulting in higher overall
production during a lactation. Because a cow's milk production increases and
decreases during her lactation based upon a known curve, application of Posilac
can be carefully planned to maximize results.
An average dairy cow begins her lactation with a moderate daily level of milk
production. This daily output increases until, at about 70 days into the
lactation, production peaks. From that time until the cow is dry, production
slowly decreases. This increase and decrease in production is partially caused
by the count of milk-producing cells in the udder. Cell counts begin at a
moderate number, increase during the first part of the lactation, then decrease
and the lactation proceeds. Once lost, these cells generally do not regrow until
the next lactation.
To apply Posilac for maximum effect, farmers are recommended to make the first
Posilac application about 50 days into the cow's lactation, just before she
peaks. The Posilac then prevents mammary cell death, limiting the rate of
production decrease after production peaks. After the peak, production declines
with or without application of Posilac, but declines more slowly with Posilac
than without. This decrease in the rate of production decline permits dairy cows
to produce more milk over the span of a lactation - at its best, this will be
seen by seven to eight more pounds of milk being produced per day than would be
produced without the benefit of Posilac.
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