Effect of a natural fermentation liquid supplement on health performance carcass characteristics and rumen fermentation dynamics in beef feedlot cattle

Abstract

As feed costs continue to rise, new technologies that will improve feed efficiency in a safe and consistent manner will become more critical for beef cattle production. With this in mind, two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1, a randomized complete block design study utilizing 144 Bonsmara-type steers (233 ± 0.8 kg BW) was conducted to examine the effect of a liquid Lactobacillus fermentation prototype (LFP; Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) on performance of feedlot cattle. The 134 day study was conducted on a commercial beef research facility in South Africa. Upon arrival, cattle were processed and allocated to a free-range pasture for 8 d. On d 9, cattle were further processed and then blocked by arrival body weight and randomly assigned to one of 3 treatments with 8 pens per treatment and 6 steers per pen. Dietary treatments included a control diet that contained 0, 5, or 10 g LFP per head daily. Treatments were provided a in starter (d 9 to 29), grower (d 30 to 43) and finisher diet (d 44 to 134). The cattle were then slaughtered and carcasses data obtained. Experiment 2, a 3x3 Latin Square design conducted with three Beefmaster steers (700kg ±20kg) fitted with ruminal cannulae to establish a possible mode of action of the LFP supplement. Rumen fermentation parameters namely VFA concentration, rumen NH3-N, ruminal pH, lactic acid concentration and NDF disappearance were measured. In experiment 1 no differences were detected (P > 0.05) among treatments for BW gain, ADG, DMI or any of the carcass traits that were measured. Overall, (d 9 to 134), FCR was improved (P = 0.03) for 5 g LFP supplemented steers compared with those receiving 0 or 10 g LFP (4.70 vs. 4.82, 4.86). No differences in FCR, however, were reported, between treatment groups, in each individual feeding phase. Results from experiment 1 suggest that LFP does improve feed efficiency of beef cattle fed a typical South African feedlot diet and that the effect was dose dependent. Results from experiment 2 showed no differences in any of the rumen fermentation parameters that we measured. Further research on the mode of action of LFP is warranted.