Probiotics
Probiotics are live organisms put into an animals feed to improve health or performance. Yoghurt is the classic example of a probiotic for humans. Probiotics are a proven concept in monogastric animals where they can give production and disease control benefits. Ruminants however have a first gut that has billions of bacteria, fungi and protozoa already present and so probiotics that have benefits in monogastrics often do not work or give much benefit in ruminants. Probiotics that work in cattle in feedlots have been around for some time. These can function to lower the amount of acidosis or to digest more effectively under the acidic conditions of the grain fed rumen. This is not the issue for pasture fed cattle. In extensive systems, there is also the problem of how to deliver a live microorganism to your stock on a consistent basis.
A recent trial conducted at Einasleigh has shown that a specific Probiotic based on 2 strains of Baccilus bacteria was effective in increasing weight gain by 0.12kg per head per day. The Probiotic was administered in dry lick and increased the weight gain over similar cattle fed the same lick without probiotic. This trial was conducted under real world conditions and in a tough environment and shows that this specific probiotic gives real profitable results. This probiotic increases both the rate and extent of fibre digestion allowing the beast to extract more energy from the available pasture. The cost of adding the probiotic was only 4 cents per head per day so it gave at least a 10:1 return on investment
Because the fibre in the diet is better digested your stock can get more energy from the pasture they eat. This allows them to gain more weight, be more fertile and to produce more milk so growing better calves. Dairy studies have shown both an increase in the amount of milk and the fat content of the milk. The better quality milk will allow animals to display their full genetic potential for marbling.
The probiotic is delivered as the spores of the bacteria which is a highly resistant resting stage of the bacteria. As a spore the probiotic can handle heat, moisture and stomach acid and survive while still being viable in both the rumen and small intestines. Once the bacteria is in the gastrointestinal tract it hatched to the vegetative stage where it grows and multiplies. While the bacteria are good at digesting fibre they are not so good at surviving in the beast and so constant replenishment is needed to get maximum benefit from them.
While there are many types of probiotics available only one with a proven ability to give results in ruminant animals in the type of system that you are using should be considered. Until now there has not been a suitable proven probiotic for use in high fibre, low quality diets that are the norm in the northern beef industry.
