At the Annual Congress on Ruminant Research organised last week in Paris, Lallemand presented a study on ruminant diet modelling conducted in partnership with Toulouse Agricultural College.

The study aimed at integrating the effects of ruminant-specific live yeast used as a rumen modifier into its dairy production dynamic model.

Eric Chevaux, Global Applied R&D Manager, explained, "Rumen-specific yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 has been widely studied and today we have gathered data on its effects on the degradation of a large database of raw materials and forages in sacco. This enabled us to predict its effects on ration degradation. Backed up by a large dataset of field results on dairy production, it allowed us to go one step further and design a dietary sub-model to predict the effect of this specific additive on milk production. The trial presented today contributed to validate our predictive model".

Laurent Dussert, Category Manager, Ruminant Feed Additives, also commented on the study: "Intensive farming practices require a high plane of nutrition, which typically includes high levels of fermentable carbohydrates. This can put the animal at risk of developing metabolic disorders, such as sub-acute rumen acidosis."

"A large amount of data concerning our rumen specific live yeast modes of action and benefits indicate that it represents a valuable tool which allows maximising the forage portion of the diet, giving the farmers and nutritionists the possibility to either increase milk or meat revenue per kg of feed, or to optimise feed cost with similar milk revenue.," Dussert added.

The present study confirms the relevance of a sub-model which enables taking into account the quantitative response of live yeast on rumen pH and fibre degradation within a feed formulation programme. "Such concrete advance is valuable to allow nutritionists and producers to model for improved feed efficiency and income over feed cost," Dussert concluded.