Mr. Eky, a dairy farmer from Bogor City, shared a true story that reflects the reality of many dairy farmers today. He faces unstable milk prices, difficulty obtaining quality feed, and ever-rising feed costs.

"The good concentrate we often use has run out. Now we're just using a regular brand, so if there's a decline in milk quality and quantity, that's normal," he said.

Amid these challenges, Mr. Eky began using VitalGraze® Dairy Cattle, a micronutrient premix specifically designed for dairy cows. After just one month of use, he began to see changes.

"The quality of my milk has improved. The total solids and fat content have increased. The quantity hasn't changed much, but I know this is a long-term process and won't be visible anytime soon," he said.

Mr. Eky's story proves that micronutrients, although invisible, are very important in determining the performance and quality of dairy cow production.

Micronutrients are a group of nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, that cows require in small amounts but play a crucial role in maintaining physiological performance, health, and milk production. In dairy cows, micronutrient requirements increase, particularly during lactation, as the body must work harder to produce milk while maintaining immunity and reproductive function.

Several micronutrients, such as vitamins A, D₃, and E, function to maintain tissue integrity, strengthen the immune system, and prevent postpartum disorders such as retained placenta or mastitis. Meanwhile, minerals like zinc, selenium, manganese, and magnesium act as enzyme cofactors, support hormone function, and maintain udder health. Deficiencies in these micronutrients, although not immediately apparent, can lead to decreased milk production, impaired fertility, and an increased risk of infection.

Furthermore, a study by Goff & Horst (1997) highlighted the importance of magnesium and calcium in preventing hypocalcemia (milk fever), which often occurs early in lactation. Similarly, recent research by Abdallah et al. (2022) found that the right combination of micronutrients can increase total milk solids by 8–12% and improve the immunological status of dairy cows in hot climates.

Therefore, the use of specially designed premixes such as VitalGraze® Dairy Cattle is an important step in meeting the micronutrient needs of dairy cattle, especially in Indonesia which faces the challenges of high temperatures, low-quality forage, and high environmental infection pressure.