ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2025 45 LIVE YEAST AND BEEF CATTLE Beef production systems are designed to maximize growth and profitability in the face of high price pressures. The goal is to shorten fattening times and improve feed utilization while achieving the highest quality meat. This is linked to optimizing diets and ensuring rumen health, but also to feeding high-concentrate diets with low fiber. These energy-rich diets can lead to digestive disorders such as ruminal acidosis. Live yeasts can be particularly helpful for fattening bulls. They are known to have a positive effect on ruminal microbial activity by stabilizing pH and by improving digestive capacities for better feed efficiency, especially in cattle on high-concentrate diets that alter the microbial ecosystem, which is also a big stress factor for the bulls. Live yeasts can help to reduce this stressor by improving the microbial population in the rumen. The supplementing of live yeasts in fattening cattle has resulted in: • Improved daily weight gain • Improved feed conversion ratio • Better meat quality • Better fecal consistency, indicating better digestibility • Rumen support for high-stress situations LIVE YEAST BIOSPRINT® IN ACTION The effects of Biosprint® live yeast supplementation on zootechnical performance and carcass quality were evaluated in a field trial with 63 crossbred fattening bulls during their starter and finisher periods. Animals were assigned to either a control group or a 2 g/head/day live yeast supplemented Biosprint® group. Daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated from body weight and feed intake measurements. Fecal digestibility was assessed by a sieve washing performed twice per feeding group at the end of fattening. Supplemented animals had an improved DWG by 3.4% in the starter and by 2.5% in the total phase compared to control animals. Similarly, FCR was improved by 3.1% in the starter and by 0.74% in the total phase in supplemented animals (Figure 2). These results underscore the benefits of supporting rumen health early in life, even when the rumen is still developing or under increased stress. Manure washing provides an indication of the degree of digestion. Manure is “washed” through three successive screens of different sizes. This separates and collects all the particles in the manure by size. Ideally, the > 50 % of the particles would be collected on the bottom (smallest) screen. The presence of large Figure 1. The mechanisms of action and benefits of live yeasts. Figure 2. Biosprint® improved DWG and FCR in the starter period by 3.4 % and 3.1% respectively. Biosprint® supplementation, especially in the starter phase, led to a support of ruminal health and subsequent performance.
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