New innovations in microbial technology

Lallemand Animal Nutrition is continuing to develop and expand its range of scientifically-proven microbial solutions for dairy cows. Speaking at the ‘Meeting the genetics of the modern dairy cow’ seminar, Technical Services Manager – Ruminants, Matt Bekker, profiled a number of studies that support the use of microbial technology in optimising rumen function and cow health.

“The transitional cow has more than 130 square metres of surface area of placental tissue, 22 kg of amniotic fluid and a 45 kg calf displacing the rumen,” Matt says. “Suddenly she’s had a calf, expelled the placenta allowing the rumen to rapidly expand. Milk production is also about to go from zero to 35 litres a day.

“Her appetite is suppressed and she’s under all sorts of pressure from metabolic challenges, including mastitis, metritis, acidosis, ketosis and hypocalcaemia. There’s a lot going on and one of the most important things you can do for her is to get the rumen functioning properly by rapidly re-populating beneficial rumen bacteria.

“That’s where Levucell SC has a very important role to play. Levucell SC helps to stabilise rumen pH, establishing and maintaining a balanced microbial population leading to improved rumen function and digestibility.”

Levucell SC is a natural, strain-specific live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077). Its beneficial effects upon rumen function, digestibility and feed intake have been documented in more than 60 scientific papers published throughout the world.

“Levucell SC also improves rumen wall integrity during the transition period, thereby decreasing the challenge and inflammation to the rumen epithelium after calving,” Matt says. “Combined, these benefits translate directly to improved health and production.”

Matt also outlined the benefits of feeding ProTernative during transition. ProTernative is a strain-specific live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079) that enhances the intestinal environment for beneficial microorganisms and supports the host’s native intestinal microbiome. The same yeast is used extensively in human healthcare to restore native microflora populations after medical treatment.

“ProTernative also contributes two other important benefits in that it activates the immune system while reducing local and systemic inflammation, both of which can reduce the negative impact of stress in cattle,” Matt says.

“We all know about the rumen but there’s another 47 metres of forgotten gut between the rumen and the end of the digestive tract with a lining that’s just one cell thick. Any compromise to those cells requires the cow to mount an immune response, energy that could otherwise be directed towards milk production.”

A recent large-scale commercial trial in a leading Australian feedlot found ProTernative significantly reduced the incidence and severity of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in grainfed cattle.

The six-month trial, which involved more than 10,000 head, was conducted by Stockyard in partnership with Lallemand Animal Nutrition and supervised by the feedlot’s consultant veterinarian, Dr Matt George of Bovine Dynamics.

The trial showed an impressive 37% reduction in pull rates; a 32% reduction in BRD cases; a 20% reduction in the number of cattle receiving an antibiotic treatment; and a 14% reduction in all-cause mortalities compared to the same six-month period the previous year.

Matt also presented the results of another large-scale field study that examined the efficacy of Yela Prosecure in combination with Levucell SC at the renowned Ballangeich Run.

Lallemand is a global leader in microbial technology used in food technology, biotechnology and agriculture. Some of its well-known products include Magniva silage inoculants, Levucell SC live yeast and ProTernative probiotic.

Established in Canada at the end of the 19th century, Lallemand operates 20 manufacturing plants throughout the world. Besides its own research and development laboratories, Lallemand collaborates with leading universities and research facilities throughout the world.

About the speaker:
Matt Bekker has more than 30 years’ experience in extensive and intensive livestock production, including sharemilking in a 600-cow dairy; livestock manager of a 20,000-head feedlot; and as the Asia Pacific technical services director with a leading livestock nutrition manufacturer. Joining Lallemand Animal Nutrition in 2023, Matt now provides technical support for the company’s growing portfolio of yeast and bacterial probiotics used in ruminant animals. Matt holds a Master of Agriculture degree from the University of New England and is the author of several peer-reviewed scientific papers.