Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on ruminal pH and microbial fermentation in dairy cows. Yeast supplementation on rumen fermentation

An experiment was conducted with eight ruminally-cannulated cows using a crossover design with 2 periods to determine the effects of yeast supplementation on rumen fermentation. Holstein dairy cows in late lactation were either supplemented with 0.5 g/hd/d of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an active dry yeast (CNCM-1077, Levucell SC20 (r) SC, Lallemand Animal Nutrition) or not supplemented (control). A basal diet consisting of 60% forage and 40% concentrate (DM basis) was fed once daily to both groups of cows throughout the entire experiment. Ruminal pH was measured continuously every 22 min using a pH probe that was placed in the ventral rumen sac for 6 consecutive days. Volatile fatty acid and ammonia N concentrations in the rumen were measured on days 5 or 6 of the 12-d period for each cow and DM intake was monitored throughout the experiment. Data were analyzed using a mixed-effects model with repeated measures. There were no differences in dry matter intake between treatments. Mean ruminal pH was greater (P < 0.05) when yeast was supplemented (6.53 ± 0.07) compared with the control (6.32 ± 0.07). Average maximum and minimum ruminal pH were also greater (P < 0.05) when yeast was supplemented (7.01 ± 0.09 and 5.97 ± 0.08, respectively) compared with the control (6.80 ± 0.09 and 5.69 ± 0.09, respectively). Time spent under the subacute acidosis threshold, pH less than 5.6, was lower (P < 0.05) with yeast supplementation compared with control cows. No difference was observed for ruminal ammonia N concentrations (mean = 14.0 ± 1.2 mg/dL) between treatments. Total VFA concentration (mM) in the rumen tended to be lower (P = 0.10) in the yeast-supplemented cows (107.3 ± 6.35) than in the control cows (122.4 ± 6.35), which could be related to the greater pH observed with yeast supplementation. Supplementing dairy cows with active dry yeast in the current experiment increased the mean, minimum and maximum ruminal pH; decreased time spent in subacute rumen acidosis, and tended to decrease total VFA concentration in the rumen compared with control cows.