Abstract
There have been contradicting reports of the efficacy of direct-fed microbials in finishing cattle diets. Some researchers have observed improvements in daily gain and feed efficiency when direct-fed microbials are included in finishing diets, whereas others have reported no differences in dry matter intake or ruminal and blood pH. Many of these studies have been conducted on a relatively small scale and used few animals per pen compared with that of typical commercial feedlot operations. In our study, yearling crossbred beef steers and heifers (n=3,539; 796 lb body weight) were used in an experiment conducted at a commercial feedlot operation to characterize growth performance and carcass characteristics associated with the supplementation of direct-fed microbials (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Propionibacterium freudenreichii) in finishing cattle diets. Including direct-fed microbials in the diet throughout a 122-day finishing period had no measurable impact on growth performance or carcass characteristics of finishing cattle.
Highlights
IntroductionDirect-fed microbials used in ruminant feed supplements include live microbial cells (yeasts, molds, and bacteria) and(or) their metabolites to alter the rumen and lower-gut microflora
Direct-fed microbials used in ruminant feed supplements include live microbial cells and(or) their metabolites to alter the rumen and lower-gut microflora
Some researchers have observed improvements in daily gain and feed efficiency when direct-fed microbials are included in finishing diets, whereas others have reported no differences in dry matter intake or ruminal and blood pH
Summary
Direct-fed microbials used in ruminant feed supplements include live microbial cells (yeasts, molds, and bacteria) and(or) their metabolites to alter the rumen and lower-gut microflora. Increased interest in direct-fed microbials has stemmed from the concern about the widespread use of antibiotics in the cattle feeding industry, reports of improvements in finishing cattle performance, and the potential to inhibit food-borne pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7. More recent reports show no differences in dry matter intake or ruminal and blood pH when cattle are fed combinations of lactate-producing and lactate-utilizing microorganisms. Many of these studies were conducted in small pens with relatively few animals. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of supplementing direct-fed microbials on performance of cattle fed in a commercial feedlot facility
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
