Unpublished report · Livestock · In the living system
In a university dairy crossover, somatic cell linear score was lower and daily milk showed only a tendency to rise.
- Unpublished report
In this unpublished crossover, cows on treated water had a lower somatic cell linear score, daily milk only tended to rise, and fat, protein and rumination did not change.
University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, 2023. Final results report, Phases 1 to 4. Manufacturer-supplied report.
This report is not published. Enquiries about it, including access to the report where its owners permit, can be sent to info@carbonbiomeproject.com.
Scope, material and route
- Studied
- Lactating dairy cows
- Design
- Crossover trial, four phases of six weeks
- Setting
- University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus dairy unit, Ontario
- Material
- A humic and fulvic preparation supplied by its manufacturer
- Route
- Drinking water
- Duration
- Four six-week phases, milk sampled at weeks 3 and 6
Study design
Supported difference
- Somatic cell linear score3.45 against 4.02
A tendency only
- Daily milk, three-week period38.0 against 36.4 kg, P between 0.05 and 0.10
No difference
- Milk at collection36.4 against 35.9 kg
- Fat and protein4.03 against 4.02; 3.31 against 3.32 percent
- Milk urea nitrogen10.54 against 10.41
- Water intake113.2 against 111.1 L a day
- Rumination and leisure timeNo difference
Four phases of six weeks; cows switched between treated and untreated water
Milk sampled at weeks 3 and 6 of each phase, numbered from the start, marked above the bar.
- Phase 1 6 weeks
- Phase 2 6 weeks
- Phase 3 6 weeks
- Phase 4 6 weeks
More study details
- Research question
- Does adding the preparation to drinking water change milk yield, components, somatic cell linear score, water intake or behaviour?
- Sample size
- 45 cows, about 29 per phase; water intake on 26 cows and rumination on 32 cows fitted with collars
- Comparator
- Untreated drinking water, the same cows in alternating phases
- Outcomes measured
- Milk yield, fat, protein, milk urea nitrogen, somatic cell linear score, energy and fat corrected milk, water intake, rumination and leisure time
- Not measured
- Rumen pH, gas or methane, manure consistency and feed intake
Findings
The University of Guelph's Ridgetown Campus ran a crossover trial in 45 lactating cows over four six-week phases, about 29 cows per phase, switching cows between treated and untreated drinking water. At six weeks, somatic cell linear score was significantly lower with the preparation, 3.45 against 4.02. Daily milk over a three-week period showed a tendency to rise, 38.0 against 36.4 kg. Fat, protein, milk urea nitrogen, water intake and rumination did not differ. The authors concluded that the supplement did not have large effects on productivity. The report also notes a carry-over effect between phases. It is unpublished and has not been peer reviewed.
| Outcome | Comparison or result | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Somatic cell linear score | 3.45 against 4.02 | Significantly lower with the preparation |
| Daily milk, three-week period | 38.0 against 36.4 kg | A tendency only (P between 0.05 and 0.10) |
| Milk at collection | 36.4 against 35.9 kg | No difference |
| Fat and protein | 4.03 against 4.02 percent; 3.31 against 3.32 percent | No overall difference; fat varied by phase |
| Milk urea nitrogen | 10.54 against 10.41 | No difference |
| Water intake | 113.2 against 111.1 L per day | No difference |
| Rumination and leisure time | 470.1 against 466.9 and 448.3 against 454.4 minutes per day | No difference |
Values are treated phases first, control phases second, at week 6, as reported. Values are extracted from the source as reported; no raw data were available.
Interpretation and limits
What this record supports
A lower somatic cell linear score and a tendency to higher daily milk with this preparation in this herd.
What remains uncertain
- Status. The report has not been published or peer reviewed.
- Carry-over. The authors report carry-over effects on daily milk and linear score between phases, which complicates a crossover design.
- Scope. Rumen pH, gas and feed intake were not measured, so the report cannot speak to them.
Which part of the framework it informs
Environmental conditions
The physical, chemical and management context.
Microbial activity
What microbial communities do within that context.
Observable function
What can be observed or measured in the host or wider system.
This record informs this area.
Source, funding and review
- Source type
- Unpublished report
- Associated products
- The tested preparation comes from the manufacturer that produces the formulations sold by Fulgenix Farms. Equivalence to a specific Fulgenix Farms product is not documented in this record.
- Funding and relationships
- Not stated in the results document. The report was provided by the manufacturer of the tested preparation.
- Review status
- Prepared as an editorial summary. External scientific review has not been completed.
- What was read
- Read in full from the report (five pages). The report is not publicly available.
- Original title
- Effect of humate substances on milk production and components of lactating dairy cattle
- Authors
- University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus dairy research team
- Publication
- Final results report, Phases 1 to 4, 2023
- Summary prepared by
- Carbon Biome Project
- Date added
- 19 October 2026
- Cite this summary
- Carbon Biome Project. In a university dairy crossover, somatic cell linear score was lower and daily milk showed only a tendency to rise. Evidence library record, added 19 October 2026. carbonbiomeproject.com/evidence/guelph-ridgetown-2023-dairy-crossover-drinking-water/
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