Add Levucell SC to your loose licks this winter

The rumen specific live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 (Levucell SC) can significantly improve the performance and profitability of beef cattle grazing poor quality pastures.

Examined in a trial, cattle fed S. cerevisiae I-1077 recorded 27.6% higher live-weight gain and 30.3% improvement in feed conversion efficiency, returning an extra $11.43 per animal after the additional cost of the investment.

This study examined the efficacy of LEVUCELL SC when added to a lick supplement.

A total of 48 Charbray steers with an average live-weight of 329 kg (range +/- 20kg) were randomly allocated to six pens, each of two blocks of four animals.

During the 14-day adaptation period, steers received 300 grams/head/day of the dry lick and restricted access to poor quality Rhodes grass hay (6% crude protein).

During the 42-day trial period, steers received access to 200 grams/head/day of the dry lick and ad-lib intake of poor quality Rhodes grass
hay.

During the trial period, half of the animals received access to a commercial lick, while the other half received access to a commercial lick containing LEVUCELL SC.

In Australia, Northern beef producers provide loose licks to provide a source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and salt to stimulate dry matter intake and rumen function over the dry season.

Lallemand Animal Nutrition Australia technical services manager, Jordan Minniecon, says the results demonstrate the economic value of adding LEVUCELL SC to supplementary rations, even in extensive grazing systems.

“One of the most performance-limiting factors in extensive grazing systems is rumen fill and rate of passage,” Jordan says.

“The researchers expected cattle fed LEVUCELL SC would have higher dry matter intake due to its beneficial impact on improving fibre digestibility. However, there was no measurable difference in fibre digestibility. Therefore, this improvement can be attributed to the improved microbial profile of the rumen.”

“We were able to extract more kilometres out of the same amount of fuel in the tank, due to an improvement in rumen efficiency,” Jordan added.

LEVUCELL SC contains the strain-specific live yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae I-1077, which was selected from thousands of different strains of S. cerevisiae for its proven ability to improve rumen function in dairy and beef cattle.

How live yeast works:

Saccharomyces cerevisiae I-1077 has a scientifically-documented mode of action. It helps to create a stable rumen environment, optimise rumen pH, and improve fibre digestion in four important ways:

• It directly competes for substrates with lactate-producing bacteria (e.g. Streptococcus bovis), thereby reducing the acid load in the rumen.
• It provides a direct source of nutrients for lactate-consuming rumen microbes (e.g. Megasphaera elsdenii and Selenomonas ruminantium spp.), further reducing the acid load in the rumen.
• It consumes residual oxygen present in the rumen, thereby allowing the proliferation of beneficial anaerobic bacteria, protozoa, and fungi.
• It promotes the growth of fibre-digesting microflora, such as cellulolytic bacteria and fungi, thereby improving fibre digestion and providing a source of protein for milk production.