ReaShure: Effects on Production, Health and Reproduction in Dairy Cows

What happens when a commercial dairy field study helps reshape an entire area of dairy nutrition? In this episode of the Real Science Exchange, Dr. Fábio Lima and Dr. José Santos revisit one of the foundational studies evaluating rumen-protected choline supplementation in transition dairy cows. Their conversation explores the origins of the research, the challenges of conducting large-scale commercial dairy trials, and the findings that helped establish the critical link between liver health, metabolic function, and lactation performance.

The discussion examines how supplemental choline impacts triglyceride accumulation in the liver, supports energy metabolism, and improves health and reproductive outcomes during the transition period. Decades after the original work was published, the study remains one of the most influential pieces of research supporting the use of rumen-protected choline as a nutritional intervention for transition cows.

Listen as the researchers reflect on the science, the discoveries, and the lasting impact this work continues to have on dairy management today.