As we head into 2025, silage piles are being opened, and many producers are feeding 2024 harvested forages. This transitional period brings nutritional concerns along with the potential for wild spoilage yeasts and bacteria to emerge. It's an ideal moment to recognize the crucial link between silage fermentation, gut health, and overall herd performance and well-being. Although we can’t always control the conditions during the growing season or harvest, implementing a solid strategy for managing gut health throughout feedout can help mitigate digestive challenges.
At the forefront of this conversation is Lallemand’s CleanFeed Approach, which focuses on protecting silage with a research-proven inoculant and following your feed investment into the rumen with a viable live yeast for enhanced forage digestibility. With the right tools and expertise, farmers can support their herd's health and enhance overall production efficiency.
Why Gut Health Matters for Your Cattle
A healthy digestive system is critical for both cow productivity and longevity. A healthy microbiome plays a vital role in breaking down feed, nutrient absorption and supporting immune function. Disruptions in the rumen can lead to problems like subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), reduced forage digestibility and declining feed efficiency.
As you transition to your 2024 silage, keep an eye out for signs of digestive upset. Monitor for declining dry matter intake, cud boluses or loose manure while walking pens. These signs may indicate pH imbalances in the rumen. Addressing these challenges early on can help prevent more significant problems later. By partnering with Lallemand, you can discover effective strategies to support gut health, leading to happier herds and improved productivity.
A Probiotic Solution for Improved Rumen Function
A key component of Lallemand’s CleanFeed Approach is the inclusion of a rumen-specific viable yeast, BIOPOWER® SC. By introducing BIOPOWER SC into rations, producers can significantly improve forage digestion and improve rumen function.
The viable yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 (BIOPOWER SC) has been carefully chosen from thousands of strains to support digestive function, improving milk and component yield, and feed efficiency in lactating dairy cows.1,2 BIOPOWER SC supports a healthy rumen, maximizing fiber digestibility and strong return on investment (ROI) for the farmer.
How BIOPOWER SC Works
The unique and research-backed strain of BIOPOWER SC stimulates the growth of fiber-digesting microbiota, thereby improving nutrient availability from the diet. This is essential for keeping your herd performing well in the face of nutritional challenges, such as newly fermented silages which are often high in rapidly fermented sugars. This viable yeast acts as a gut modifier by scavenging oxygen, creating a more anaerobic environment that favors beneficial lactate-utilizing bacteria like M. elsdenii and S. ruminantium. This active process raises rumen pH and lowers the risk of SARA.
By adding BIOPOWER SC to rations, you can improve feed efficiency and diet digestibility without needing to increase dry matter intake. This means a positive return on your investment, as healthier animals lead to better performance and production. The ease of incorporating BIOPOWER SC makes it a practical choice for operations looking to boost cattle well-being and production efficiency.
The CleanFeed Approach: A Comprehensive Solution
At the heart of Lallemand’s CleanFeed Approach is improving feed quality and gut health through the utilization of a research-proven forage inoculants and a rumen-specific live yeast. However, even the best nutritional solutions cannot replace good on-farm management practices. To maximize the effectiveness of the CleanFeed Approach, it is important to maintain hygienic practices on-farm to minimize the transfer of harmful microbes, such as:
- Minimize silage pile exposure to air to prevent reactivation of spoilage organisms.
- Discard spoiled feed that looks discolored or mouldy when opening the silage pile.
- Avoid mud and dirt contamination while mixing and feeding, which can promote bad bacteria growth and mycotoxin production.
By prioritizing clean, hygienic feed and healthy practices, farmers can enhance cattle health and production, reduce replacement costs and be more efficient. This holistic approach to cattle feeding and well-being is an investment in the future of their operation.
As we enter the new year, it is fundamental for producers to recognize the importance of rumen health in enhancing herd productivity. With Lallemand’s CleanFeed Approach and the benefits of BIOPOWER SC, producers can access the tools and expertise needed to effectively navigate potential nutritional challenges. This strategy keeps your herd healthy and boosts ROI, enhancing profitability and sustainability for long-term success. For more on the CleanFeed Approach, contact your nutritionist, Lallemand representative or visit Lallemand’s website.
Written by Kassidy Buse, Ph.D., Lallemand Animal Nutrition
Kassidy Buse, Ph.D., Lallemand Animal Nutrition
References:
1. de Ondarza et al., Multiple-study analysis of the effect of active dry yeast on milk yield, milk component content and yield and feed efficiency. The Professional Animal Scientist 26(2010): 661-666.
2. BIOPOWER SC is approved by CFIA and, when fed as directed, can increase milk production in lactating dairy cows (982800, 982803 and 983776).
