Effects of Supplemental Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Culture on Rumen Development, Growth Characteristics, and Blood Parameters in Neonatal Dairy Calves

Abstract

Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) culture was added to a texturized calf starter at 0 (control), 1, or 2% of dry matter to determine effects on intake, growth, blood parameters, and rumen development. Seventy-five Holstein calves (38 male; 37 female) were started on the experiment at 2 +/- 1 d of age and were studied for 42 d. Starter intake was measured, and fecal scoring was conducted daily. Growth and blood parameter measurements were recorded at weekly intervals. A subset of 6 male calves (2 per treatment) was euthanized at 5 wk of age, and rumen tissue was sampled for rumen epithelial growth measurements. An additional 6 male calves were euthanized at 6 wk of age for rumen epithelial growth measurements. Inclusion of yeast culture at 2% of the starter ration significantly increased starter and total dry matter intake, average daily gain, and daily hip width change when compared with the control treatment. Average daily gain was improved by 15.6% for the 2% yeast treatment. Daily change in hip height was also significantly greater for calves receiving 2% supplemental yeast culture than for calves receiving 1%. No significant treatment differences were observed for any other variables. These data suggest that the addition of yeast culture in a dairy calf starter at 2% enhances dry matter intake and growth and slightly improves rumen development in dairy calves.

Effect of Fermented Winery By-Product Supplemented Rations on the Temperament and Meat Quality of Angus-Hereford X Steers During Feeding in a British Columbia Feedlot

“…These results are also in agreement with previous research on the impacts of feeds supplemented with active yeast cultures, as they also did not alter the growth and performance of cattle fed both corn silage and pasture-based diets (Cabrera et al, 2000;Lesmeister et al, 2004;Mir & Mir, 1994). The lack of statistically significant changes to the ADG of WB fed cattle suggests that the WB does not hold the potential to alter animal performance, or that the contents of micronutrients contained within WB, such as condensed tannins, alcohol, were at insufficient concentration to statistically impact animal performance.…”

Effects of hydrolyzed yeast supplementation in calf starter on immune responses to vaccine challenge in neonatal calves

“…Previous studies have explained the beneficial effects of yeast products as due to yeast cell components and fermented products such as organic acids, vitamins and nucleotides. However, inconsistent results due to the level and the source of the yeast culture product also have been reported (Williams et al, 1991;Lesmeister et al, 2004). In this study, inclusion of hydrolyzed yeast at 0.2% in calf starter did not have any influence on the growth performance of calves.…”

“…Therefore, the administration of an effective dietary immune enhancer or stress reducer may be beneficial for early development of the immune system, strengthening of immune competence and prevention of immune attenuation caused by various stressors of neonatal calves. Although the efficacy of administration of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) culture on growth performance and production traits has been studied for mature ruminants (Seymour et al, 1995;Kumar et al, 1997;Lesmeister et al, 2004;Daniele et al, 2009), studies a Both authors equally contributed as the first author of this article.…”

Effect of Probiotic Supplementation on Growth Performance of Crossbred Calves in an organized Cattle Farm

“…Lesmeister et al (2004) also reported similar findings in calves. Increased growth in calves receiving probiotics may be the result of additional energy and nutrients available for skeletal deposition due to the observed increase in dry matter intake for probiotic supplemented group (Van Soest, 1994).…”