Dairy UP researcher David Sheedy will present the findings from his PhD studies at the 2025 Dairy Research Foundation Symposium, to be held at Wollongong, November 26 and 27.
“With each additional lactation, the likelihood of reproductive and health problems increases,” David said.
“Under current management systems, farmers try to avoid these issues by selling cows at a younger age than may otherwise be optimal.”
“If we can reduce the metabolic issues that occur with increasing age, producers could run herds that are more flexible, resilient and profitable.
“We found that omega-3 fatty acid metabolism may have a role in improving reproduction and health outcomes in older cattle, ultimately increasing longevity.”
David’s research investigated metabolic and fat markers associated with longevity in dairy cows and took about 2000 blood samples from 29 Australian dairy herds.
The study found that blood levels of omega-3 fats declined substantially with increased age.
“If we can boost omega-3 levels through supplementation and meaningfully improve survival, the potential gains for herd longevity are substantial,” David said.
Following these findings, the DairyUP team is now exploring omega-3 supplementation strategies, potentially through marine-sourced products high in omega-3 fatty acids, to test the long-term impacts on cattle health, reproduction and survival under Australian conditions.
Dairy Research Foundation Symposium details, visit drfsymposium.com.au
For more details. visit www.dairyup.com.au
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