Effects of peripartal yeast culture supplementation on lactation performance, blood biomarkers, rumen fermentation, and rumen bacteria species in dairy cows

Abstract

Feeding yeast culture fermentation products has been associated with improved feed intake and milk yield in transition dairy cows. These improvements in performance have been further described in terms of rumen characteristics, metabolic profile, and immune response. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a commercial yeast culture product (YC; Culture Classic HD, Phibro Animal Health) on performance, blood biomarkers, rumen fermentation, and rumen bacterial population in dairy cows from −30 to 50 d in milk (DIM). Forty Holstein dairy cows were enrolled in a randomized complete block design from −30 to 50 DIM and blocked according to expected calving day, parity, previous milk yield, and genetic merit. At −30 DIM, cows were assigned to either a basal diet plus 114 g/d of ground corn (control; n = 20) or a basal diet plus 100 g/d of ground corn and 14 g/d of YC (n = 20), fed as a top-dress. Cows received the same close-up diet from 30 d prepartum until calving [1.39 Mcal/kg of dry matter (DM) and 12.3% crude protein (CP)] and lactation diet from calving to 50 DIM (1.60 Mcal/kg of DM and 15.6% CP). Blood samples and rumen fluid were collected at various time points from −30 to 50 d relative to calving.Cows fed YC compared with control showed a trend for increased energy-corrected milk (+3.2 kg/d). Lower somatic cell counts were observed in YC cows than in control. We detected a treatment × time interaction in nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) that could be attributed to a trend for greater NEFA in YC cows than control at 7 DIM, followed by lower NEFA in YC cows than control at 14 and 30 DIM. In the rumen, YC contributed to mild changes in rumen fermentation, mainly increasing postpartal valerate while decreasing prepartal isovalerate. This was accompanied by alterations in rumen microbiota, including a greater abundance of cellulolytic (Fibrobacter succinogenes) and lactate-utilizing bacteria (Megasphaera elsdenii). These results describe the potential benefits of supplementing yeast culture during the late pregnancy through early lactation, at least in terms of rumen environment and performance.

Alterations in the rumen bacterial communities and metabolites of finishing bulls fed high-concentrate diets supplemented with active dry yeast and yeast culture

“…Thus, the decreased concentration of valeric acid following yeast supplementation may be related to the down-regulation of Megasphaera ( Supplementary Table 5 ). However, Malekkhahi et al (2016) and Carpinelli et al (2021) reported that ADY and YC supplementation tended to increase the relative abundance of Megasphaera in dairy cows. The cause of these inconsistent findings needs to be explored but may be related to the status of the experimental animals or dietary composition.…”

Alterations in nutrient digestibility and performance of heat-stressed dairy cows by dietary L-theanine supplementation

“…The rumen of dairy cows is a stable ecosystem that provides a good metabolic environment for microbes, and maintaining its stability is of great significance ( Carpinelli et al., 2021 ). Further, NH 3 –N in the rumen of dairy cows, which is primarily generated by the degradation of ingested protein nitrogen and non-protein nitrogen, is the main nitrogen source for microbial protein synthesis ( Nasrollahi et al., 2019 ).…”

Effect of Methionine Supplementation on Serum Metabolism and the Rumen Bacterial Community of Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

“…Ruminal microorganisms can produce short-chain fatty acids by fermenting carbohydrates such as cellulose and hemicellulose, which are the primary source of energy for ruminants, achieving more than 50% of their energy requirements [ 56 ]. Previous studies have shown that Bacteroidota and Firmicutes are the dominant phylum in the deer family [ 25 , 31 , 57 ], and they are also the most central ruminal bacteria with the most significant percentage of abundance in other ruminants, such as dairy cows [ 58 ].…”