The transition period remains a critical window for dairy cows, marked by intense metabolic adaptations and increased disease susceptibility. Negative energy balance, excessive lipolysis, and systemic inflammation are common challenges that jeopardize animal health and subsequent performance.
Niacin, traditionally known as vitamin PP or B3, plays an essential role beyond its classical function as a precursor of NAD+. As a bioactive molecule, niacin binds to the hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCAR2) on immune and adipose cells, leading to reduced lipolysis and modulation of inflammatory pathways. However, in ruminants, the extensive degradation of niacin in the rumen limits its bioavailability, necessitating the use of rumen-protected forms.
Microtinic®PP is a microencapsulated source of niacin designed to withstand ruminal degradation and deliver niacin efficiently to the intestine, optimizing its bioactive effects. By modulating lipid mobilization and systemic inflammatory responses, this nutritional strategy offers a non-pharmacological tool to support dairy cow health and performance.
To demonstrate this, recent research studies have investigated the impact of rumen-protected niacin supplementation on key physiological processes in dairy cows during and after the transition period.
In a controlled challenge model, Krogstad et al. (2024) showed that cows receiving Microtinic®PP had lower somatic cell scores (SCS) prior to an intramammary lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, suggesting improved mammary gland health.
Furthermore, Microtinic®PP supplementation attenuated the plasma acute phase response by reducing haptoglobin and LPS-binding protein concentrations after LPS exposure, indicating a controlled systemic inflammatory response without compromising local immune defenses.
In a large-scale on-farm clinical trial (Krogstad et al., 2025), cows supplemented with Microtinic®PP during the first 21 days postpartum exhibited increased plasma nicotinamide concentrations, confirming successful delivery of the nutrient.
Interestingly, supplementation led to substantial and sustained improvements in milk yield. Primiparous and second-parity cows receiving Microtinic®PP produced over 700 kg more milk during the lactation compared to their control counterparts. These findings underline the potential of early lactation rumen-protected niacin supplementation to enhance whole-lactation productivity.
Incorporating Microtinic®PP into transition cow programs represents a promising approach not only to improve metabolic health but also to enhance lactational efficiency and overall farm sustainability.
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