A solution that has been scientifically proven to optimize rumen health, enhance feed digestibility, and improve animal performance, including fertility and overall rumen health, is Actisaf® Sc 47, a yeast probiotic from Phileo by Lesaffre. It has been shown to increase feed efficiency, reducing emissions associated with milk production and contributing to a reduced carbon footprint that can last during the supplementation period, showing its effectiveness in Life Cycle Assessments.
Western Europe Ruminant Manager
Phileo by Lesaffre
Ruminant Global Program Manager
Phileo by Lesaffre
HIGHER FEED EFFICIENCY AND LOWER EMISSIONS
Sustainable dairy farming is crucial for addressing economic, social, and environmental concerns, while also improving efficiency, profitability, and animal welfare. As a key player in the animal nutrition industry, we understand the importance of providing innovative solutions that promote sustainable farming practices and support responsible livestock production. One such solution is the use of specialist feed additives, such as the yeast probiotic. Through scientific research, Actisaf® Sc 47 has been shown to improve animal nutrition, reduce environmental impact, and support sustainable and responsible farming practices in the dairy industry.
Globally, dairy producers face significant challenges in the form of increasingly stringent environmental regulations, as well as growing consumer concerns and demands for sustainable products. One of the most effective ways to reduce the environmental impact of milk production is through a holistic system that takes financial profitability seriously. Such a system balances environmental concerns with farm economics, thereby allowing farmers to adopt practices that benefit their business and the environment in equal measure.
Dairy farmers play an essential role in maintaining the balance between economic sustainability and environmental responsibility. A solution that has been scientifically proven to optimize rumen health, enhance feed digestibility, and improve animal performance, including fertility and overall rumen health, is Actisaf® Sc 47, a yeast probiotic from Phileo by Lesaffre. It has been shown to increase feed efficiency, reducing emissions associated with milk production and contributing to a reduced carbon footprint that can last during the supplementation period, showing its effectiveness in Life Cycle Assessments (LCA). Additionally, Actisaf® Sc 47 can improve fertility outcomes, reducing the number of days open and shortening calving intervals, leading to a more consistent and reliable production cycle. With Actisaf® Sc 47, dairy farmers can adopt sustainable farming practices that not only reduce their environmental impact but also improve the overall health and performance of their herd.
OPTIMIZING FEED EFFICIENCY IN DAIRY FARMING
Actisaf® Sc 47, derived from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, represents a ground-breaking advancement in dairy farming. The yeast probiotic is specifically developed to optimize rumen health, and its benefits encompass enhanced feed digestibility, animal growth, fertility, well-being, and overall performance. Numerous scientific trials and research have underscored the efficacy of Actisaf® Sc 47 in improving these various aspects of rumen health. (Salah, N. et al, 2023 Meta-Analysis Study)
In a comparative study, dairy cows supplemented with Actisaf® Sc 47 showed enhanced feed digestibility than those in the control group receiving sodium bicarbonate, which is commonly used to support rumen health in dairy cattle diets (Marden et al. 2008). Incorporating Actisaf® Sc 47 into the diet had a stabilizing effect on ruminal pH levels post-feeding and effectively prevented lactate accumulation. These positive changes in the rumen environment led to an increase in both the proportion and activity of fiber-digesting gut bacteria. This enhanced digestive efficiency not only led to improved nutrient assimilation in the gastrointestinal tract but also suggests a more effective utilization of forages, ultimately translating into increased feed efficiency.
In a different investigation, feed efficiency was also assessed through sieving dung. Digescan, an easy-to-use tool was used to a practical measurement in the field, showing that supplementation with Actisaf® Sc 47 resulted in an important decrease of undigested particles in the dung compared to the control group, from 35% to 28% (Salah, N. et al. 2023). This reduction in undigested matter not only indicates enhanced feed digestion but also points towards more efficient nutrient utilization by the cattle.
The positive outcomes of increasing feed efficiency in dairy farming extend beyond cow health and farm productivity, having a significant environmental impact by reducing emissions associated with milk production.
In lower-yield systems, the carbon footprint is often higher because of the less efficient feed utilization. In these scenarios, Actisaf® Sc 47 supplementation plays a crucial role, increasing milk yield and improving the fat and protein content of the milk through enhanced nutrient utilization. This yeast probiotic not only boosts productivity by promoting efficient digestion and nutrient absorption but also contributes to the overall health and reproductive performance of the herd. Moreover, it contributes to sustainable dairy farming practices by decreasing undigested feed particles and optimizing nutrient use. These improvements coupled with a reduced carbon footprint demonstrate the environmental advantages of incorporating Actisaf® Sc 47 into dairy cow diets.
RUMEN HEALTH FOR A SUSTAINABLE DAIRY COW
Rumen health is commonly managed through diet, particularly during the cows’ dry period, when milk production ceases until the next calving.
This phase involves significant dietary adjustments requiring adaptations in the rumen’s structure and microbial composition. On one hand, the rumen papillae, which are small, finger-like projections lining the rumen wall that increase the surface area of the rumen, elongate. This elongation enhances the absorption of nutrients, improving the cow’s ability to absorb VFA and thereby maintaining its energy balance and overall health.
This imbalance occurs when energy is sourced from the mobilization of adipose tissue, potentially elevating the levels of ketone bodies such as beta hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) in the blood stream.
In a trial (Minuti et al. 2018), compared to the reference period (control group), Actisaf® Sc 47 supplementation group resulted in a 4% increase in FCM yield, equivalent to 1.38 kg per cow per day. Additionally, systemic inflammation was reduced by 30%, as evidenced by a decrease and stabilization in BHBA levels.
The reproductive efficiency of dairy cows plays a critical role in maintaining the health of the herd and the financial sustainability of dairy operations as it directly influences milk production.
Enhancing dairy cow fertility can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of milk production. Given that improved reproductive efficiency means fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per liter of milk, there will be fewer non-productive animals in the herd. This leads to a more efficient herd management by reducing the number of cows needed for the same milk output, thereby decreasing feed, water, and land use per unit of milk produced. Infertility not only compromises the economic viability of dairy farms but also stands as the principal cause of premature culling in dairy herds.
Incorporating Actisaf® into the diets of dairy cows can significantly improve fertility outcomes and improve milk production.
Long-term supplementation leads to enhanced success rates in conception at first service, reduces days open, and shortens calving intervals, all of which contribute to notable economic benefits for farmers (Julien et al. 2018). Moreover, Actisaf® elevates milk production and the content of milk solids, whilst also improving dairy cow fertility, contributing to increased longevity. The study involved 14 dairy cattle farms, each with a minimum of 40 dairy cows using artificial insemination. Over a period of 13 months, lactating cows were given a daily supplementation of 5 g/cow/day of Actisaf®. The study findings revealed that daily yeast probiotic supplementation significantly improved the success rate of artificial insemination by an average of 4 points and the success rate of first artificial insemination in multiparous cows by 5 points. The number of inseminations required for pregnancy decreased from 3.1 in the reference period to 2.7 during supplementation.
By optimizing reproductive performance, dairy farms can ensure a consistent and reliable production cycle, thereby reducing the economic and environmental costs associated with lower fertility rates.
LCA: MEASURING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The dairy value chain is a source of various GHG emissions, including methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide. GHG emissions estimates can be determined through various methods, with LCAs being the most employed.
An LCA provides an understanding of the environmental impacts associated with all stages of the life cycle of a commercial product, process, or service.
Within the dairy sector, an LCA accounts for all GHG emissions linked to the production of dairy products, including direct and indirect emissions.
Direct emissions are those released through manure management and enteric fermentation, whilst indirect emissions come from feed production, energy use, and farm operations (e.g., milking, housing, transport) (FAO 2019). Approximately 55% of livestock emissions are direct, stemming from natural processes like enteric fermentation in ruminants which emit methane, and the nitrification/ denitrification of excreted manure and anaerobic decomposition, leading to the release of methane and nitrous oxide release (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2019). Direct emissions also encompass carbon dioxide from on-farm energy consumption. On the other hand, indirect emissions, making up the remaining 45%, arise from the production of fertilizers and pesticides, feed production, manure management, and the transportation of feed, animals, and animal products, also including CO2 emissions from land use.
By gathering this type of information, LCA studies provide a baseline for the carbon footprint, highlighting key areas for improvement and potential risks. This way, an LCA ensures that efforts to reduce environmental impact in one area do not inadvertently increase burdens in another. LCA studies also offer valuable insights to stakeholders and decision-makers.
LCA OF ACTISAF® SC 47
Feed additive companies are increasingly aligning their practices with the sustainability objectives of their clients. Farmers, in turn, seek solutions that are not only scientifically based but also capable of showcasing tangible advancements in farming systems and sustainable practices. This alignment is pivotal for maintaining the financial viability of farms and securing the necessary social license for ongoing production. In agriculture, acquiring this social license depends on demonstrating a commitment to environmental stewardship, humane treatment of livestock, and fair labor practices.
Sustainability in practice:
The environmental advantages of Actisaf® Sc 47
Actisaf® Sc 47 as the first yeast probiotic to showcase strong ISO compliant evidence regarding environmental benefits, Actisaf® Sc 47 sets the standard in yeast probiotics feed supplements. This distinction is supported by an abundance of scientific publications and comprehensive research, including global trials that present novel data on the product’s effectiveness and sustainability contributions.
To assess the environmental footprint of Actisaf® Sc 47, Phileo undertook a comprehensive full scope LCA from cradle to farm gate, according to the specified Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR; European Commission) and Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP; FAO) standards and guidelines in relation to the production and usage of feed additives. The study was performed with the help of Blonk consultants from 2021 and has an ISO 14040 14044 compliance report (2023). Additionally, Phileo performed a thorough inventory analysis on production site, which included energy consumption and material requirements across the entire value chain of Actisaf® Sc 47, examining associated GHG emissions, carbon intensity, nutrient pollution, and consumption of finite resources like land and water.
Conducted at farm level, the study assessed six key environmental impact categories, including the carbon footprint/ climate change impact, land use, water scarcity, acidification, eutrophication, and resource utilization with a focus on energy. It gathered data from trials conducted by different prestigious European institutions, covering a variety of standard European dairy animal diets from the transition phase to mid-lactation.
Overall, the study highlighted the environmental advantages of using Actisaf® Sc 47, beyond the well-documented production and feed efficiency benefits.
Incorporating Actisaf® Sc 47 into dairy cows’ diets at the recommended dosage can lead to a reduction in carbon footprint by up to 5% during the supplementation period, primarily due to enhanced feed efficiency.
For sources and references, please contact the authors.
About Maxime Briche
Maxime Briche graduated from ISA (Institut Supérieur d’Agriculture de Lille), he began his career as a technician for a feed manufacturer in northern France, where he provided monitoring and nutritional advice to farmers. In 2012, he joined Phileo, a business unit of the Lesaffre group, a global leader in live yeast, with the mission of demonstrating the benefits of ruminant farming solutions within the distribution network. Since 2019, he has held the position of Ruminant Market Manager for Western Europe. His main responsibilities are to provide technical support to his sales colleagues as well as Phileo customers, drawing on his field experience. He also oversees trials conducted with partners (institutes) in line with current and future trends and needs of the ruminant market in Western Europe.About Erika Paiva
Erika Paiva graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine from the State University of Londrina – Brazil, and did a MBA in Marketing in 2014. Before joining Phileo, she gathered 10 years of experience as independent consultant for beef and milk livestock farms and 9 years of experience as product manager, production manager and technical manager for a premix company in Brazil.
