The evaluation of dietary betaine, pre and probiotics, transitional substrates, and beta-mercaptoacetate on physiological, metabolic, hormonal and production responses in lactating Holstein cows subjected to thermal stres

This dissertation evaluated nutritional approaches such as the addition of betaine, prebiotics, probiotics, transitional metabolic substrates, and beta-mercaptoacetate (MAA; a compound which inhibits beta-oxidation) to the diet of lactating dairy cows to determine their impact on physiological, metabolic, hormonal and production responses during thermal stress.