The document describes trials of a supplement called X-ZELIT given to dairy cows before and after calving on 4 farms. The supplement was mixed in feed or top-dressed and aimed to reduce health issues after calving like milk fever, displaced abomasum, and metritis. Results showed reductions in these issues on 3 of the farms and no problems with cow consumption. General observations found the supplement helped minimize health issues but did not clearly increase milk production, and it was difficult to administer to cows outside. Most farmers planned to continue using the supplement.

1. French trials

2. Feeding option
• X-ZELIT
– Mix in TMR or top feeding
– 500g/cow/day
– 2 weeks before calving
– Stop at calving
• Trial with dry cow compound feed
– Name : XL-ZELIT ???
– Mix in TMR or top feeding
– 2 kg/cow/day (including 500g of X-ZELIT)
– 2 weeks before calving
– Stop at calving

3. Farm 1
• X-ZELIT / Holstein
Pre X-ZELIT With X-ZELIT
17 cows 17 cows
Milk fever 1 0
% 6% 0%
Displaced abomasum 1 0
% 6% 0%
RFM 7 0
% 41% 0%
Metritis 8 1
% 47% 6%
Milk production 100d 41.7 42.9

4. Farm 2
• X-ZELIT / Holstein
Pre X-ZELIT With X-ZELIT
12 cows 12 cows
Milk fever 0 0
% 0% 0%
Displaced abomasum 1 0
% 8% 0%
RFM 6 1
% 50% 8%
Metritis 7 2
% 58% 17%
Milk production 100d - -

5. Farm 3
• X-ZELIT compound feed / Normand cows
Control X-ZELIT
20 cows 20 cows
Milk fever 1 0
% 5% 0%
Displaced abomasum 0 0
% 0% 0%
RFM 3 1
% 15% 5%
Metritis 3 2
% 15% 10%
Milk production 100d - -

6. Farm 4
• X-ZELIT / Holstein
Pre X-ZELIT With X-ZELIT
14 cows 14 cows
Milk fever 1 0
% 7% 0%
Displaced abomasum 1 1
% 7% 7%
RFM 3 2
% 21% 14%
Metritis 3 3
% 21% 21%
Milk production 100d - -

7. General observations
• X-ZELIT
– Helps minimize the frequency of metritis, displaced abomasum,
retained placenta
– Hard to really see an improvement of the milk production in farms
– No problem of consumption of pure X-ZELIT with Holstein cows, but
real problem with Normand => feed compound
– Not easy to give the product when cows are outside (field)
– More than 70% of the farmers will go on with the product