If cows are eating the same diet, their manure should look the same.  However, Variable Manure Syndrome (VMS) is so common today it's often accepted as normal
 
Manure is the most obvious sign of a cow's current digestive performance, and tells us a lot about what's going on during the digestive process.  When we kick, sift, or wash manure it opens a window into the cow's digestive performance. 

Examining manure allows you to find things like mucin casts, undigested fiber, whole grains, bubbles, foam, blood, or changes in color. Each of these findings tells you something about what's going on in that cow's digestive system.   You also see many different manure consistencies.  VMS is so common today that most producers now accept it as normal.  


Often VMS is found in a herd, on the same day and within the same group, without ration changes.  

Heat stress increases VMS, digestive problems, reduces intake, and changes carbohydrate metabolism and glucose uptake

Recent research, conducted at the University of Arizona, shows changes in carbohydrate metabolism and glucose uptake.  The end result of this altered metabolic condition is the heat-stressed dairy cow has an extra need for rumen derived glucose and more specifically the VFA propionate.  



VMS Cost

VMS, or a drastic swing from loose to normal to firm manure, indicates rumen pH instability, acidosis or that the protein and energy levels are not in balance.  Manure variation from day to day means the rumen has changed from a continuous fermenter to a batch fermenter, which alters the bacterial profile significantly and kills digestive microbes that fuel a healthy digestive process.  VMS leads to poor digestion, undigested feed in the manure, and less than optimum feed efficiency. 

Proven Genetics for Specific Functions

The P-One Program protects against VMS.  Priority's genomic DNA research has resulted in the proprietary A4000h (hybrid) and A2020 strains after competitive testing against other strains for 10 key performance indicators.  Discoveries include digestive microbes that will perform specific digestive functions like converting lactic acid to a more energy efficient propionate.