Novonesis launches Bovacillus probiotic to boost dairy feed efficiency & milk yield

EUROPE – Novonesis has introduced Bovacillus, a new Bacillus-based probiotic designed to improve dairy cow health, feed efficiency and milk output, as farmers face rising feed costs and tightening margins.

The product, now launched in the European Union, comes as feed accounts for an estimated 60-70% of total milk production costs, underscoring the need for greater emphasis on nutritional efficiency and herd performance.

“Dairy farmers are often faced with the choice between health or productivity and profitability or sustainability. However, with Bovacillus™, farmers don’t have to choose,” said Kim Mueller Christensen, Vice President of Global Marketing for Animal Biosolutions.

Bovacillus™ is designed to work in both the rumen and intestines, supporting gut health, strengthening immunity and improving fibre digestibility. 

By enhancing how cows utilise feed, the probiotic allows more energy to be directed toward milk production rather than immune response.

According to Novonesis, the additive delivers measurable production gains, including an additional 1 kilogram of milk per cow per day, alongside increases of 37 grams of protein, 31 grams of fat, and 44 grams of lactose per cow per day.

Feed efficiency gains drive economic value

For feed producers and dairy operators, efficiency improvements remain a critical lever in managing costs. 

Novonesis reports that Bovacillus™ improves feed efficiency by 3.7%, enabling higher output from the same feed input.

The probiotic is also engineered for flexibility in feed manufacturing, with heat stability up to 95°C, allowing inclusion across a wide range of feed formats, including pellets, premixes, total mixed rations (TMR), mineral blocks and liquid feed systems.

This versatility is particularly relevant for compound feed producers seeking consistent performance across different processing conditions and formulations.

“Adding Bovacillus™ made my life easier, and we definitely see the difference with calmer, healthier cows and more milk volume,” said Craig Jopp.

The launch is supported by nine peer-reviewed publications, 12 mode-of-action studies and five years of field data, reflecting a broader industry shift toward scientifically validated feed additives.

With dairy producers under pressure from volatile input costs and sustainability targets, probiotics and other biosolutions are gaining traction as tools to improve productivity while reducing environmental impact.

By increasing nutrient utilisation and output per unit of feed, such solutions can contribute to lower emissions intensity per litre of milk, an increasingly important metric in European dairy markets.

The introduction of Bovacillus™ highlights growing demand for feed innovations that deliver both economic and sustainability benefits, as producers seek to optimise performance without increasing input costs.

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