Short communication: Megasphaera elsdenii on the performance of steers adapting to a high-concentrate diet, using three or five transition diets

Abstract

________________________________________________________________________________ AbstractMegasphaera elsdenii (M.e.) NCIMB 41125 is a robust lactate utilizing strain of M.e. that is effective in minimizing the risk of ruminal acidosis in feedlot cattle. When dosed orally, cattle adapt smoothly to increasing concentrates in the diet, the incidence of digestive disturbances, morbidity and mortality is reduced, and carcass yield improves. One could therefore expect that the smooth transition should benefit overall performance. Dosing with the organism also provides the opportunity of a reduction in the time necessary for adaptation, rendering a further decrease in the cost of feeding. These two objectives were tested with 80 yearling crossbred steers blocked by weight before allotment to the respective treatments. The trial design was a randomized 2 × 2 factorial of two drench treatments (M.e. vs. placebo) and two adaptation periods (17 vs. 8 days). In the M.e. treatment, 40 steers were dosed orally on day 1 of the trial with 200 mL inoculum containing 10 11 cells. In the placebo treatment, the other 40 steers were dosed orally with only the 200 mL inoculum. In the 17-day transition period, five diets (5-transition) were used, which increased progressively in concentrate percentage, whereas in the 8-day transition period only three of the five diets were fed (3-transition). The steers were fed individually for 63 days before being transferred to group pens and fed until day 95, when they were slaughtered. Dry matter intake was not affected by dose or transition treatment. Body weight at 28 days and 63 days did not differ between dose and transition treatments; neither did ADG and FCR. Hot carcass weight was higher in M.e. steers than in placebo steers. None of the parameters differed significantly between the 5-transition and the 3-transition treatments. It was concluded that dosing with M.e. NCIMB 41125 should provide a small benefit to performance of feedlot cattle, with a further benefit in cost savings as dosing with the organism should allow a shorter adaptation period. ________________________________________________________________________________Keywords: Steers, transition diets, feed intake, body weight, growth, growth, carcass characteristics # Corresponding author: Kleeuw@arc.agric.zaRuminal acidosis in feedlot cattle manifests when lactic acid accumulates rapidly and pH declines as a result. The condition usually occurs during transition from an all-roughage to a high-concentrate diet over a short time when the microbial population and the rumen environment have not adapted properly to the fermentation medium of primarily starches and sugars. To prevent the condition, lactic acid needs to be removed rapidly, in which the robust strain NCIMB 41125 of the lactic acid utilizing species Megasphaera elsdenii excels (Henning et al., 2010a;Meissner et al., 2010). The strain (hereafter referred to as M.e.) is dosed at the commencement of the adaptation phase and supports a smooth transition as observed, with a...

Influence of dietary roughage level and Megasphaera elsdenii on feedlot performance and carcass composition of thin cull beef cows fed for a lean market

“…There was a tendency for cattle drenched with M. elsdenii culture to achieve an additional 0.20 kg of carcass ADG compared with controls (2.66 vs. 2.46 kg, P = 0.10). These findings are in concert with Drouillard et al (2012) who also documented a tendency for improved carcass ADG in feeder cattle drenched with M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 during an accelerated step-up process. Additionally, a review of domestic and South African Feedlot studies in 2010 by Messier et al noted a 2.2% improvement for carcass ADG for cattle drenched with 1 × 10 10 CFU of M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125.…”

“…Like the current study, short-fed cattle dosed with M. elsdenii culture, recorded higher ADG compared with negative controls. In another study with congruent objectives to the current trial, Drouillard et al (2012) explored using M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 to expedite the step-up process in feeder cattle. Receiving cattle were organized into a 2 × 2 factorial designed and transitioned to a finisher diet over an 8 or 17 d period.…”

“…Lactipro advance (Megasphaera elsdenii culture; MS Biotec Inc., Wamego, KS) is a commercially available patented strain (NCIMB 41125) of M. elsdenii approved for use in beef and dairy cattle. Oral drenching of M. elsdenii culture maybe a tool to advert ruminal acidosis ( ARC/Kemira Phosphates, 2006 ; Kettunen et al, 2008 ; Horn et al, 2009 ; McDaniel et al, 2009 ; Henning et al, 2010b ; Muya et al, 2015 ), but its role in augmenting performance remains ambivalent ( McDaniel et al, 2009 ; Drouillard et al, 2012 ; Miller 2013 ; Thieszen et al, 2015 ). Collectively, the objective of this project was to evaluate the interrelationship between M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 and finishing diet roughage level during a rapid step-up realimentation period in thin, cull beef cows.…”

Current situation and future trends for beef production in the United States of America — A review

“…More recently, Megasphaera elsdenii , a lactate-utilizing bacteria, has been introduced into the market. Reported benefits include avoidance of ruminal acidosis and the ability to transition more quickly to high-concentrate diets [ 13 ], as well as improved cattle performance and decreased incidence of disease in young cattle after arrival in feedlots [ 14 ]. Anecdotal evidence from commercial abattoirs has suggested it may also decrease fecal shedding of food-borne pathogens, but this effect has yet to be validated in a controlled research experiment.…”

Effect of oral administration of Megasphaera elsdenii on performance of Holstein cows during early lactation

“…In addition, steers on the low roughage diet had significantly lower incidences of diarrhea and bloat when dosed with M. elsdenii. Drouillard et al (2012) evaluated the effect of dosing steers with M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 in 2 adaptation periods of varying length. Half of the steers were dosed with 200 ml of inoculum containing 10 11 cfu M. elsdenii cells or a placebo; half of the steers in each of these 2 treatments were enrolled in either an 8-or 17-d transition period, containing 3 or 5 steps, respectively.…”