Influence of Live Yeast Culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on Milk Production and Composition, and Blood Biochemistry of Grazing Dairy Ewes during the Milking Period

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the influence of live yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on milk production, composition, and blood biochemistry of dairy ewes during the machine milking period.The control group (CD) was fed a concentrate mixture and hay and grazed twice daily, while the second (YS3) and third (YS6) groups were fed the same diet supplemented with 3 or 6 g of live yeast culture (Yea Sacc 1026 ), respectively. The treated groups had significantly higher values (p < 0.05) for fat corrected milk (FCM) (1221, 1116 and 940 g/day, for YS6, YS3 and CD group, respectively) and fat-protein corrected milk (FPCM) (1204, 1103 and 931 g/day, for YS6, YS3 and CD group, respectively), while the values for milk yield, fat yield and lactose yield were higher (p < 0.05) only in the YS6 group compared to the CD group. Milk yield values were constantly higher in the YS6 group than in the control group while the values for the YS3 group were more variable during milking. Milk composition was not significantly affected by yeast supplementation with the exception of urea values which were lower (p < 0.05) in the YC6 group. Yeast administration influenced β-hydroxy-butyrate (BHB) values, which were higher (p < 0.05) in the treated groups; and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) values, which were higher (p < 0.05) only in the YS6 group compared to the control group. Other blood biochemistry values were not influenced by the treatments.We conclude that supplementation with live yeast culture, under the conditions of our experiment, had a significant effect on the performance and metabolism of grazing dairy ewes during the machine milking period. Based on more constant results, we could recommend the inclusion of live yeast culture (Yea Sacc 1026 ) at 6g/animal/day as appropriate for field conditions.

Effect of supplemental yeast culture and physiological factors on colostrum and milk composition of Pelibuey ewes

“…In this study the inclusion of yeast culture had no effect on milk composition, which is in agreement with Mašek et al (2008a) who found no influence of added 3 or 6 g/head/day of live yeast in the diet Istrian sheep × East Freisian dairy ewes. On the contrary, Mašek et al (2008b) found increases in the milk fat content of Croatian crossbred dairy ewes supplemented to 1 g/head/day of live yeast cells.…”

“…In sheep, results of recent studies are also variable. Mašek et al (2008a) found no effect of the addition of live yeast on milk quality, while in another study increased the fat content (Mašek et al 2008b).…”

Effects of live yeast supplementation on mid-lactation dairy cows performances, milk composition, rumen digestion and plasma metabolites during hot season

“…Milk urea nitrogen was significantly lower in the LY group (P 00.001). The decrease in urea level in milk and blood (Table 5) was probably related to a higher microbial activity and higher incorporation of NH 3 into microbial protein (Erasmus et al 1992;Masˇek et al 2008;Heidari Khormizi et al 2010). Increasing NDF apparent digestibility approved this hypothesis (Table 3).…”

“…Supplementing dairy cow diets with Direct Fed Microbial (DFM) is one way to reduce these effects (Bruno et al 2009). The use of DFM as a feed additive for manipulating rumen fermentation, in order to reduce energy and nutrient losses from commercial ruminant production, has been extensively investigated since the 1950s (Guedes et al 2008;Masˇek et al 2008). Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most common DFM recently supplemented to the diet of lactating dairy cows (Thrune et al 2009).…”

Effect of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on rumen fermentation and metabolic profile of dairy cows in early lactation

“…Szucs, Suli, Halasz, Arany, and Bodor (), who gave live yeast (strain CNCM I‐4407; 5 g/cow/day) to transition dairy cows under field conditions, found reduced serum levels of BHBA and NEFA. On the contrary, Baiomy () and Mašek et al () found increased levels of BHBA and NEFA in live yeast culture‐supplemented ewes. Nikkah, Bonadaki, and Zali () did not demonstrate significant effects on the metabolic profile of lactating cows after S. cerevisiae feed supplementation; they did not find any changes in the levels of glucose.…”