Yeast Supplements

Yeast Supplements - have always been difficult products to assess, since the effects of yeast are by no means instantaneous, but over the years trial after trial has shown yeast to be about the most consistently reliable and cost effective performance enhancing feed ingredient available. The effect of a live yeast is to improve feed conversion efficiency by between 10% and 15%. The result is 1 - 2 litres more milk per cow, usually accompanied with other benefits in terms of milk quality, improved fertility, body condition and overall herd health. 

Yeast stimulates the proliferation and activity of fibre digesting bacteria and lactic acid utilizing bacteria in the rumen. The mode of action which involves scavenging oxygen from the rumen and removing lactic acid has been thoroughly researched and is now well understood. The effect is to both raise rumen pH reducing acidosis, and to increase the rate of digestion of the diet, particularly of fibre, consequently increasing total dry matter intake by 1kg - 2kg per cow. Increased rumen bacterial activity creates up to 15% more microbial protein which has a superior feed value to fishmeal. Utilization of additional degradable protein also helps reduce blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels.  

The standard recommendation is to introduce yeast to the cows diet at least 3 weeks before calving to get the beneficial effects of yeast when they are most needed, during transition and during early lactation. Then to continue feeding throughout the lactation.

The problem is that it takes 2 to 3 weeks to build a population of live yeast in the animal and once established it takes some time to see the full effects of the yeast. Measuring the response is difficult. What we see in practice is cows that started the lactation on yeast will peak 2 - 3 litres higher. Mid-lactation cows have more persistent yields. Whilst we rarely see responses immediately following, either introduction or removal of yeast from the diet, over a lactation cows invariably produce several hundred litres more milk. 

We do not recommend feeding yeast unless you are prepared to feed it for at least 3 - 4 months and a full lactation is preferable and yes, most of our clients do continue feeding yeast at grass, where it is equally beneficial.

Feedback from the vast majority of dairy farmers who have used yeast for a season, when asked, say that "the thing we have noticed most is that our cows have been much healthier, cleaner, more settled and with fewer problems". As we all know "Healthy cows give more milk".

Velcourt Yeast Trial Results (2004)

The reasons for this are clearly shown in trials done by a team of vets at Velcourt Farms in Dorset last winter. This trial was fully independent and paid for by the farmer. The trial was on a high yielding 200 cow, full TMR fed herd, housed all year, on an even calving pattern, was in a steady state with no changes to the diet or to the forages throughout the trial. Yeast was fed for 5 months at normal rate, cows were recorded automatically. Dry matter intakes were recorded daily by weighing the feed that the cows didn't consume each day. Rumen pH was recorded by sampling rumen fluid.

At the start of the trial rumen pH was low at 5.83 verging on sub-acute rumen acidosis or SARA. 
Rumen pH increased steadily over 5 months after the introduction of yeast, to 6.51. 
This evidence supports our own field observations. At 6.5 which is optimum pH, we would expect to see very settled, clean, healthy cows, cudding well with optimum rumen function and very efficient digestion, which is exactly what we see regularly on commercial farms who feed yeast.

Dry matter intakes improved steadily throughout the trial. Despite being at 26.1 kg at the start they still improved by another 1 - 2 kg per cow.

Again we see a gradual improvement in with milk yield amounting to 2 litres per cow. The milk yield increases as more cows calve onto yeast with higher peak yields than those drying off from the previous lactation. What this trial shows very clearly, is that feeding cows is a long term process, where the full benefits of what we do today may not be seen for at least another year. It is quite clear that feeding yeast brings long term benefits.

Assuming an average yield response of around 1.5 litres of milk per cow at 18p / litre plus other benefits, with a cost for yeast of 7p / cow / day we can be confident of a 4:1 return on the cost of the yeast.

We regard yeast not as an expensive add on, but as one of the cheapest, best value feeds available.

Making best use of the wide range of feeds available is an area where our nutritional expertise is of particular benefit to our customers. 

Yeast in Growing Livestock & Transition Diets

Live yeast supplements also give very good responses in calf, lamb, beef and heifer rearing diets. Typically we see a 10% - 15% improvement in both growth rates and feed conversion efficiency. Yeast is an absolute must for the close-up dry cows.

Our Range of Live Yeast Supplements

Biocell Farm Mix - contains the worlds leading live yeast; Biosaf^SC47. Biocell differs from other live yeasts in that it is micro-encapsulated to improve viability for use under commercial farm conditions. Biocell  gives us consistent improvements in intakes and performance in dairy, calf and heifer rearing systems. We have many satisfied customers. Biocell should be fed as routine in all high yielding dairy herds, summer and winter. Starting with the close-up dry cows 3 weeks before calving and fed right through lactation. 

Yea-sacc Farm Pak   - YeaSacc¹⁰²⁶  from Alltech UK is the worlds leading yeast culture for ruminants. increases the numbers of lactic acid utilizing bacteria in the rumen, helping to maintain optimum pH, improving fibre digestion and so making better use of forage. Yea-sacc delivers  cost-effective benefits in animal health, feed efficiency and output. 

Yeast really does work. If you haven't used yeast,  try some.

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Richard Webster Nutrition Ltd offers a full nutritional support package free of charge to our customers along with the most extensive range of high quality feed inputs available.

Working together for a more profitable future 

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