Yeast – a miracle ingredient in the ruminant diet

From the article you will learn:

• On the types of applicable yeast in dairy cows.
  
• How does live yeast work, in feeding cows?
  
• When to use KILLACID feed additive?
  
• Dosage of KILLACID in dairy cows.
  
• Advantages of the feed additive – KILLACID
  
• Period of heat stress in dairy cows
• And many other valuable information needed in
  improving the health and efficiency of dairy production

Meeting the nutritional needs of high-yielding dairy cows involves the use of large amounts of concentrate feed. This results in weaker rumination and promotes drops in rumen fluid pH below the critical value of 5.8. As a consequence, feed intake and milk fat secretion decrease, metabolic diseases appear in the long term, which can result in hoof problems. The solution is to use feed additives, among others. Yeast-containing preparations.

Types of applicable yeast:

– live yeast cultures – they absorb a significant portion of oxygen (yeast entering the rumen fluid begins to breathe), thus creating friendly conditions for the proliferation of fiber-digesting bacteria in the rumen, and their action promotes an increase in feed intake and milk yield rates,

– dried dead – are a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals,

– Yeast metabolites – promote rumen microflora activities and improve feed palatability.

Agrocentrum has partnered with leading manufacturers of live yeast cultures to conduct research programs dedicated to ruminants and their nutrition. These companies have placed particular emphasis on the management of the rumen microbial ecosystem. The result of these efforts is the isolation of a unique yeast strain -Saccharomycescerevisiae CNCM I-1077 (Levucell SC). On the basis of joint experience , a product called KILLACID was developed.

How does live yeast work?

The effects of live yeast cultures can be divided into the respiration process, how they affect the microflora in the rumen as well as feed intake behavior:

1. Breathing:
   • As the yeast enters the rumen, it begins to respire, thus taking up the oxygen that is in the rumen. Keeping in mind that fiber-digesting bacteria require strictly anaerobic conditions this has a direct bearing on maximizing the utilization of NDF in the feed ration.
2. Effects on rumen microflora:
   • Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 entering the rumen not only begin to respire but also feed. The source of their food is the same nutrients (sugar molecules) that the lactic acid-producing bacteria Streptococcus bovis feed on.
   • The presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 in the rumen stimulates the detoxification effect due to the increased amount in the rumen of Megasphaera elsdenii bacteria which, is responsible for the utilization of lactic acid.
   • Both actions prevent the production of large amounts of lactic acid, which is the main culprit in subclinical rumen acidosis.
   • Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 present in the rumen increase the activity of fiber digesting bacteria Fibrobacter succinogenes
3. Feed intake:
   • It has been proven that, animals receiving Levucell SC in the ration eat more frequent meals but in smaller amounts, which also helps to reduce sudden drops in rumen pH. DeVries T. J. and E. Chevaux, Univerisity of Guelph, Canada, 2014. J. Dairy Sci. 97 : 6499-6510. (It is also very important to maintain adequate welfare including the amount of space at the feed table).

Adequate multiplication of these microorganisms is a guarantee of better availability and higher feed intake for milk production. Stability of fermentation ensures high efficiency of microbial protein synthesis – the natural and most valuable protein for the ruminant.

When to use KILLACID feed additive ?

The answer comes to mind when you translate the name of the product – KILLACID (kill acid). The mixture is recommended for conditions threatening subclinical rumen acidosis. Killacid allows the rumen to recover from acidosis and return to the desired condition.

Many breeders use KILLACID preventively and cannot imagine the composition of their feed ration without these live yeast cultures. They are aware that by using them they strengthen their herds throughout lactation. They gain high parameters of feed intake and utilization, and consequently productivity and herd health. The favorable effect on the microbial distribution of fibers is a valuable tool to maximize the feed portion of the ration which also significantly translates into production economics.

KILLACID dosage.

Feeding our yeast is easy. It can be used as an ingredient in mixtures prepared on the farm, directly for the cows, or as an ingredient in prepared feed in the feed wagon.

KILLACID is administered in an amount of 100g per day

In the use of Killacid, it is very important to understand that live yeast cultures do not multiply intensively and do not have the ability to colonize the digestive tract. This is an unnatural environment for them. However, with constant daily administration, the probiotic effect mentioned above occurs.

Advantages of feed additive – KILLACID:

• An increase in the digestibility of the ration,
• Biological and chemical stabilization of the rumen environment,
• Increasing milk yield,
• Improving fat and protein parameters,
• maintaining the proper condition of the animal improving health parameters and reproduction.

Recommendations for the use of the feed additive KILLACID

• Perinatal period with milking of dairy cows

The use of live yeast cultures in the feeding of dairy cows is particularly justified during the transition period (the last 2-3 weeks of drying out and the first month of lactation). This is when the intake of acidogenic concentrate feeds increases strongly in the ration after calving. The addition of yeast will protect against a decrease in rumen pH, and at the same time stimulate the intake of roughage dry matter. This clearly has a positive effect on cow condition and milk quality and quantity.

According to a study conducted by Lallemand:

“The daily total SM intake of cows receiving LEVUCELL SC relative to the control group ranged from 18.5 to 17.3 kg at birth.

The effect was particularly pronounced from weeks 2 to 9 (+1.5 kg DM/animal/day).”

Dairy cows receiving live yeast cultures in the feed relative to the control group lost less weight and had higher daily milk yields. It is noteworthy that Killacid is an excellent product for the period from preparation to calving (the last 2-3 weeks of drying out). It facilitates the adaptation of the rumen environment to new conditions without disturbing the cation-anion balance.

• Period of heat stress in dairy cows

This is one of the hardest periods for dairy cows and unfortunately can also overlap with the perinatal period. The use of Killacid has a beneficial effect on dry matter intake and milk production during this period. The proportion of Levucell SC in the ration has been shown to have a better effect on rumen fluid pH than the 170 grams of acidic sodium carbonate used as a control(De Ondarza et al, Commercial Farm USA, 2011).

While the latter only neutralizes rumen acids, yeast reduces their accumulation, further increasing the digestibility of fiber. It is worth noting that our yeast has a synergistic effect with sodium bicarbonate, which results in a better effect in the fight for dry matter intake and milk parameters.

• Rumen maturation

Due to the rapid establishment of populations of cellulolytic bacteria and ciliate protozoa, young ruminants fed with Killacid are characterized by an earlier maturation of the rumen microbial ecosystem. This has a positive effect on the growth of the animals and a reduction in the frequency of diarrhea.

• Recovery time of normal bacterial flora during and after antibiotic treatment and deworming of dairy cows

Despite the numerous benefits of using a feed additive for dairy cows, KILLACIUD cannot be considered a miracle dietary ingredient that solves or masks problems or errors of a nutritional nature. Of course, when it is used correctly, one should expect improved health and production efficiency. But all the time it does not relieve the obligation to ensure the broadly understood welfare of the herd and the correctness of the entire ration.

Arkadiusz Antochow
Regional Representative of Agrocentrum

Maciej Piękniewski
Lallemand