Use of a direct-fed microbial product as a supplement during the transition period in dairy cattle

Abstract

Two studies were conducted. The objective of the first study was to assess the effects of a direct-fed microbial (DFM) product on dry matter intake, milk yield, milk components, disease incidence, and blood metabolites in dairy cattle. The objective of the second study was to assess the effects of DFM on apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility (ATTD). One hundred twenty primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows housed in a tiestall facility at the University of Guelph were used in study 1, and a subset (21) of the same cows participated in study 2. Cows were blocked by anticipated calving date (6 blocks) and then randomly assigned within parity to receive either a DFM supplement (Chr. Hansen Ltd., Milwaukee, WI) or placebo (control). The DFM supplement provided cows with 5.0 × 10(9) cfu/d of 3 strains of Enterococcus faecium and 2.0 × 10(9) cfu/d of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The DFM supplement was mixed with 0.5 kg of ground dry corn and top-dressed during the morning feeding. The placebo supplement contained the corn only. Individual feed intakes and milk yields were recorded daily. The experiment commenced 3 wk before calving and ended 10 wk postcalving. Milk samples for component analysis were collected on 3 d per week and pooled by week. Body weights and body condition scores were assessed 1 d before enrollment in the study (wk -3), postcalving (wk 1), and at the end of wk 3, 6, and 9. Blood samples were collected before calving (wk -3) and the end of wk 1 and 3. Study 1 showed that treatment had no effect on average dry matter intake or milk yield (kg/d) over the duration of the experiment. The changes in body weights and body condition scores and net energy balance over the duration of the experiment did not differ due to treatment. Treatment had no effect on plasma concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate, nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, or haptoglobin. Study 2 investigated the effects of DFM on ATTD of starch and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) using insoluble NDF and lignin as internal markers. Study 2 used 21 cows (block 6) from the cows that participated in study 1 while the cows were between 60 and 70 d in milk. Cows receiving DFM had lower fecal starch content (0.88 ± 0.10 vs. 1.39 ± 0.25) and greater ATTD for starch (98.76% ± 0.28 vs. 97.87% ± 0.24) compared with those receiving placebo, and the AATD of NDF did not differ. Additionally, we detected no difference between internal markers for the measurement of ATTD. In conclusion, we were unable to detect a change in overall dry matter intake, milk yield, or milk and blood parameters with DFM supplementation. However, our results demonstrated that DFM can have a positive effect on total-tract starch digestibility. More studies are needed to investigate the effects of DFM and their modes of action under multiple management conditions.

Application of enzyme probiotic drug developed based on microorganisms of the rumen of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in feeding cows

“…Feeding with the preparation was started three weeks before the calving and ended 10 weeks after the calving. The results revealed that DFM had a positive effect on digestibility of the fodders in the digestive tract (Al Zahal et al, 2014).…”

“…Intensive production technology is accompanied by tension in the functions of all of the organs, and the most intense period that determines the health and productivity of the animals is the transitional period. Therefore, Al Zahal et al (2014) performed and analysis of influence of microbiological preparation (DFM) on the consumption of dry matter, milk yield, milk components, the morbidity rate and metabolites in the blood of dairy cattle in the transitional period and also digestion of the nutrients. Feeding with the preparation was started three weeks before the calving and ended 10 weeks after the calving.…”

Siğirlarda Süt Veri̇mi̇ni̇ Arttirmada Probi̇yoti̇kleri̇n Kullanimi

“…Probiyotiklerin çiftlik hayvanlarında kullanımlarına yönelik birçok araştırma mevcut olmakla birlikte, bu çalışmada daha çok süt sığırı yetiştiriciliğindeki yeri ve önemi üzerinde durulmuştur. Bilindiği gibi, hayvan beslemede yem katkı maddesi olarak kullanılan probiyotikler süt sığırlarında yemden yararlanma ve verim performansı artışı, yüksek süt veriminin sağlanması için kuru dönemde karşılaşılan problemlerinin önüne geçilmesi, buzağılama dönemindeki metabolik hastalıkların ve ishal vakalarının azaltılması ile çeşitli stres faktörlerinin olumsuz etkilerinin ortadan kaldırılması gibi çeşitli kullanım alanlarına sahiptir (35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42).…”

Modulation of the rumen microbiome

“…While the survival and proliferation of these organisms in the rumen and the effect of these probiotic bacteria on rumen digestive processes has been largely under-represented in the scientific literature, the probiotic effects of yeasts (S. cerevisiae) has been more extensively assessed 33,34 . Results can be highly variable between studies, however several investigations have established that the provision of these commercially available probiotics is most useful when applied to young ruminants to accelerate the establishment of a healthy gastrointestinal microflora 35,36 . Probiotics may be used to exclude undesirable zoonotic pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157 from establishing in the ruminant gastrointestinal tract and may also impact on the ruminant host immune system and feed breakdown efficiency [36][37][38] .…”