Delivering high-quality and consistent feed that is optimized for each customer’s specific needs helps ensure the optimal effect of live yeast additives. These additives are important for various aspects of animal health and performance, including growth rates, feed efficiency, immune function, reproductive performance and the quality of meat or milk
Processing and External Production Manager
Lallemand Animal Nutrition
In the rapidly evolving and intricate world of animal nutrition, the quality and efficacy of feed are crucial for maintaining livestock health and productivity. Live yeasts probiotics, increasingly valued for their benefits in animal health and performance, may face significant challenges during feed processing due to harsh conditions such as high temperatures, mechanical stress, pressure, formulation and oxygen exposure. These factors can compromise the viability of probiotics, as well as degrade essential nutrients. For probiotics to deliver their full benefits, yeasts must remain live until they reach the livestock’s digestive tract; otherwise, their effectiveness can be compromised. This underscores the need for feed technology to better safeguard and maintain feed quality.
A QUEST FOR LIVE YEAST PROBIOTIC VIABILITY
To address these challenges, Lallemand Animal Nutrition has developed a portfolio of live yeast products tailored to the specific needs of modern feed production. Here is a focus on LEVUCELL SC, the specific live yeast dedicated to ruminant feed. The LEVUCELL SC vermicelli is designed for standard formulation processes, composition or pelleting processes.
Depending on the size and density of the feed ingredients, this form can be used to optimize mixability and ensure homogeneous distribution of the probiotic to reduce the risk of segregation in the final feed. Uniform dispersion is key to delivering a consistent dose of viable yeast to each animal.
For applications involving high levels of reactive ingredients such as copper, magnesium and zinc, Lallemand also offers LEVUCELL SC MICROBEAD* technology. These spherical particles are engineered to seamlessly integrate with mineral premixtures and supplements, providing enhanced protection against chemical degradation without compromising mixability.
An alternative solution in Lallemand’s arsenal is LEVUCELL SC TITAN, a patented microencapsulation technology that offers reliable protection under challenging processing conditions like pelleting. TITAN technology operates by micro-encapsulating active ingredients in a patented protective layer, effectively shielding them from the damaging effects of heat, pressure and mechanical energy. This unique and patented micro-encapsulation process preserves the integrity and potency of the yeasts, ensuring they remain intact and are delivered to animals in the most effective manner possible.
The production process of TITAN technology is meticulously adapted to ensure the optimal resistance and viability of live yeast, from fermentation and drying to downstream processing and packaging. TITAN technology can withstand elevated temperatures, pressures, moisture levels and ingredient stresses that would inactivate the live yeast if not well processed and protected. This technology allows feed manufacturers to push the boundaries of processing efficiency and pellet quality without compromising yeast viability.
A key strength of TITAN lies in its adaptability, specifically developed for various feed production processes, including pelleting. Pelleting, which compresses feed into dense pellets for improved handling, storage, and digestibility, subjects the feed to intense pressure and heat, potentially degrading sensitive ingredients such as live microorganisms. TITAN technology is designed to withstand these conditions, preserving the effectiveness of the live yeast and supporting optimal gut health and performance.
ENSURING CONSISTENT NUTRIENTS AT EACH BITE
Effective application and a tailored approach are crucial for achieving optimal results when using live yeast probiotics in animal feed, even with innovative technologies like LEVUCELL SC vermicelli, LEVUCELL SC MICROBEAD* and LEVUCELL SC TITAN serving as the foundation for viability solutions. Lallemand Animal Nutrition works closely with feed producers to audit their manufacturing processes, identify potential fail points, and recommend the most suitable yeast probiotic form for each unique scenario. The choice of probiotic form depends on various factors, including the specific equipment used, feed formulation and processing parameters, underscoring the importance of understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Lallemand Animal Nutrition leverages extensive expertise and a collaborative approach to tailor recommendations that maximize yeast viability, adapting to a wide range of ruminant feeding systems, including mineral feed, licking buckets, liquid molasses, liquid feed like milk replacers, on-farm total mixed ration (TMR), pellets, and more. This collaboration also involves developing validation plans tailored to specific feed production conditions, ensuring that the benefits of live microorganism additives are fully realized. As a result, feed producers can deliver high-quality probiotic products to their clients, while ruminant operations benefit from yeast that arrives viable and metabolically active in their gut.
The impact of this collaborative approach extends beyond the feed mill, playing a role in supporting the growth, development and well-being of livestock. Delivering high-quality and consistent feed that is optimized for each customer’s specific needs helps ensure the optimal effect of live yeast additives. These additives are important for various aspects of animal health and performance, including growth rates, feed efficiency, immune function, reproductive performance and the quality of meat or milk. Working closely with feed producers is essential for supporting animal welfare throughout the production chain, as the best solutions come from understanding each customer’s unique challenges and goals.
CONCLUSION
As the animal feed industry continues to evolve, driven by demands for increased efficiency, productivity and sustainability, the importance of maintaining live yeast probiotic viability will only continue to grow. However, the challenges posed by the feed production processes require a tailored approach to optimize the delivery of live yeast.
By collaborating with feed producers to implement tailored viability solutions, Lallemand Animal Nutrition is dedicated to providing innovative technologies backed by extensive application expertise, ensuring the probiotics can consistently fulfill their potential. This commitment to understanding each customer’s unique needs is essential for the reliable delivery of viable probiotics.
The impact of these tailored viability solutions extends far beyond the feed mill. As the animal nutrition industry evolves, ongoing investment in technological advancements and collaborative efforts towards continuous improvement will play an increasingly crucial role in shaping the future of feed production and animal production.
*Not all formulations are available in all territories, contact your Lallemand representative to know more about the solution tailored to your specific needs.
About Carlos Vergara Robles
Carlos Vergara Robles is the Processing and External Production Manager at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, with over 20 years of experience in the animal feed industry. He oversees the processing and external production of animal nutrition products, ensuring they meet the highest standards of quality and effectiveness. Carlos Vergara Robles holds a degree in Nutrition and Food Science at Universidad Iberoamericana, Ciudad de México.
