Effect of adding a yeast product to protein plus energy supplements for beef cattle fed a low quality roughage diet

Abstract

Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. 1996 Vol. 21 EFFECT OF ADDING A YEAST PRODUCT TO PROTEIN PLUS ENERGY SUPPLEMENTS FOR BEEF CATTLE FED A LOW QUALITY ROUGHAGE DIET J.A. LINDSAYA, R.D. COXA, B.A. GELLINGA and R. JOHNSON * Dept of Primary Industries, Swan' Lagoon, Millaroo, Qld 4807 s B Rhone Poulenc, Melbourne, Vic. 3000 B Probiotic feed additives based on yeasts have been demonstrated to increase fibre digestion and improve liveweight gain (LWG) with temperate feed resources (Williams et al. 1990). These additives may have potential to enhance performance of cattle eating high fibre tropical pastures. Brahman crossbred weaner steers (178 kg liveweight) were fed native pasture hay (0.4% N 45% DMD) ad libitum during a 42 day pen feeding experiment. All cattle received 0.65 kg/day of a mixture of urea, cottonseed meal and crushed sorghum in the ratio 1:8:4 to provide additional energy and protein. Graded levels of a yeast product based on Saccaromyces cerevosiae (YEASACC�) were added to the supplement to give amounts of 0,5, 10 and 15 g/day. Table 1. The effect of adding graded levels of a yeast product to a protein, energy supplement fed to steers in pens for 42 days The steers fed the protein mix gained 0.06 kg/day. There was no LWG response at the 5 and 10 g/day addition of YEASACC while at 15 g/day addition the steers gained 0.12 kg/day. Hay intake increased as more YEASACC was fed with an increase of 10% at the 15 g/day level of inclusion. The improved growth rate at the highest level of YEASACC is partly accounted for by the increased intake of hay. However, an improvement in fibre digestion is likely to have accounted for the other part of the gain. The Meat Research Corporation provided some of the funds for this work under Project DAQ 065. WILLIAMS, P.E.V., WALKER, A. and MACRAE, J.C (1990). Proc. Nutr. Sot. 49: 128A. 8 YEASACC registered trade mark Rhone Poulenc, Melbourne 3000. 444