Feed Smarter | Dairy Spots
Feed Smarter Spots is a series of bite-sized videos where leading industry experts answer practical questions about dairy cattle health, nutrition, and performance. In under a minute, each episode delivers science-backed insights you can apply to help build more resilient, productive herds.
Bovacillus™ is your reliable, feed-stable Bacillus probiotic that supports rumen and intestinal health, delivering consistent results across (virtually) all feed types. Feed smarter for consistent and sustainable performance.
Dairy biosolutions – why now?
Increasingly, dairy nutrition needs to deliver more under tighter conditions. Rations change frequently, raw material quality varies, and margins leave little room for inconsistency. And sustainability expectations go beyond emissions to include animal health and efficiency. This is where feeding smarter with biosolutions makes the difference.
What are Bacillus probiotics and why are they different?
What makes Bacillus probiotics different from Yeast probiotics?
Not all probiotics are designed to withstand the challenges of feed production.
In this Feed Smarter Spot, Dr. Oscar Queiroz, Senior Global Portfolio Manager at Novonesis, explains how Bacillus probiotics form resilient spores — the toughest form of bacteria found in nature. This allows them to remain viable through a wide range of feed manufacturing processes and feeding applications, helping ensure the probiotic reaches the animal alive.
For producers, that means greater confidence that the probiotic is ready to deliver its benefits, regardless of the feeding system.
What is Bovacillus™?
Supporting animal health is essential — but so is helping cattle perform at their best.
In this Feed Smarter Spot, Dr. Oscar Queiroz explains how Bovacillus™ probiotic was developed to support both health and performance in beef and dairy cattle. As a thermostable Bacillus probiotic, it can be incorporated into virtually any feeding system — from TMR and pellets to premixes, milk replacers, blocks, tubs, and liquid applications.
The result is a solution that's easy to use and fits seamlessly into existing feeding programs, giving producers confidence that the probiotic reaches the animal without adding operational complexity.
Is Bovacillus™ probiotic thermostable?
Can a probiotic withstand the heat of feed processing?
Thermostability is essential for a probiotic to remain viable from feed manufacturing to the animal.
In this Feed Smarter Spot, Dr. Oscar Queiroz shares how Bovacillus™ probiotic was evaluated for its thermostability. In trials conducted at the Danish Technological Institute, feed pellets were produced at 75°C, 85°C, and 95°C, and Bovacillus™ probiotic consistently achieved the target concentration of viable spores. The spores also remained viable after six months of storage.
These results provide confidence that Bovacillus™ probiotic can maintain its viability across demanding feed processing conditions.
Can Bovacillus™ probiotic be used alongside ionophores?
Yes. Compatibility matters when introducing any feed additive into an existing nutrition program.
In this Feed Smarter Spot, Dr. Oscar Queiroz explains how Bovacillus™ probiotic was evaluated for use alongside ionophores, including monensin. While a brief adaptation phase was observed, Bovacillus™ probiotic continued to grow and reach viable levels. In practice, cattle consume probiotics continuously throughout the day, allowing this natural cycle to repeat with every visit to the feed bunk.
The result? Bovacillus™ probiotic can be confidently incorporated into feeding programs that include ionophores.
Can Bovacillus™ probiotic support a balanced gut microbiota?
A balanced gut microbiota plays an important role in supporting animal health and performance.
In this Feed Smarter Spot, Dr. Oscar Queiroz shares research demonstrating how Bovacillus™ probiotic helped promote a more balanced gut microbiota in feedlot cattle. In a South African study, cattle fed Bovacillus™ probiotic over extended periods showed a greater prevalence of beneficial bacteria associated with improved fiber and carbohydrate utilization, the production of beneficial compounds such as CLA, and overall gut health.
These findings highlight how supporting the gut microbiota can contribute to healthier, more resilient cattle.
What are the four science-backed cattle performance benefits of Bovacillus™ probiotic?
The value of a probiotic lies in the results it delivers.
In this Feed Smarter Spot, Dr. Bruno Iela Cappellozza, Global Technical Manager, Ruminant Biosolutions at Novonesis, highlights four key benefits consistently demonstrated by Bovacillus™ probiotic:
- Supports fiber digestibility across forage-based diets and TMRs
- Improves feed efficiency—5.7% on average across studies
- Increases milk yield and milk solids in dairy cows
- Supports herd resilience during periods of stress
Together, these benefits help producers get more value from every kilogram of feed while supporting healthier, more productive cattle.
What are the four science-backed ways Bovacillus™ probiotic supports animal health?
Healthy animals are more resilient, more productive, and better equipped to handle everyday challenges.
In this Feed Smarter Spot, Dr. Bruno Iela Cappellozza, Global Technical Manager, Ruminant Biosolutions at Novonesis, highlights four key health benefits consistently demonstrated by Bovacillus™ probiotic:
- Supports gut health and function
- Helps maintain a balanced gut microbiota
- Improves resilience during periods of stress
- Supports normal immune function
Together, these benefits help lay the foundation for healthier, more resilient cattle and more consistent performance.
Keep learning. Keep feeding smarter.
Sign up for our educational newsletter
No spam. No noise. Just substance.
Insights and ideas designed to make you smarter about biosolutions and dairy cattle production.
Unsubscribe anytime.
Have questions? Contact us
Whether you're troubleshooting a challenge or exploring new feed strategies, our biosolutions experts are here to help. With deep industry knowledge and practical, science-backed support and services, we’ll help you find the right answer for your operation.
To view this form, update your cookie preferences
This form is hidden because Marketing Cookies are turned off. You can enable them in your cookie settings to continue.