The use of yeast culture in feeding of dairy cows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I – 1077) addition in the diet of dairy cows on their rumen fermentation. Animals received a diet consisting of good maize silage with a higher dry matter content (18 kg), 6 kg of lucerne haylage, 5 kg of pea – silage, 3 kg of ensiled high moisture crimped corn, 1 kg of meadow hay, rape-cake 1 kg, ­brewer’s grain silage 4 kg, and 8.0 kg feed mixture. The yeast culture was added to the mixture in the dose 2.8*1010 cfu / day and cow. The supplement of yeast culture showed a positive effect on ruminal VFA production by experimental group cows in comparison with control, higher production (P < 0.01) of acetic acid (58.50 ± 1.2583b vs. 51.833 ± 2.409a %), and lower production of propionic and butyric acid (24.667 ± 1.3744a vs. 28.833 ± 1.863b %). The average utilisation of ammonia was higher by cows in treated group (12.267 ± 0.754 mmol / L), but difference was not significant. The difference in number of protozoa of cows in the control and experimental groups was significant (P < 0.05) different (308.333 ± 24.390a vs. 342.333 ± 10.9341b ths /1 ml of rumen fluid).

Keywords

• dairy cows
• yeast culture
• <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>
• rumen fluid
• dairy feeding
• rumen fermentation