Effect of doses at Enterococcus faecium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on ruminal parameters responses of feeder cattle

Abstract Text: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of doses of Enterococcus faecium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the pH, ruminal ammonia nitrogen (RAN) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in beef cattle in feedlot. Six Nellore steers fitted with ruminal cannulas, with initial average body weight of 460 kg were used in a double Latin square 3 x 3. Within each experimental period, 18 days were to adaptation and three days for sampling. Steers were fed a diet containing 200 g/kg of maize silage and 800 g/kg of concentrate. The following treatments: 0, 1 or 2 g/day of a blend with Enterococcus faecium (5 x 10⁹ ufc/g of product) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (5 x 10⁹ufc/g of product) provided in the rumen were evaluated. The statistical analyzes were conducted using PROC MIXED from SAS and means were compared using Tukey test (P<0.05). Different doses of probiotic did not showed statistic difference (P>0.05) for the variables evaluated, however, statistical difference were achieved to the time of sampling (P>0.05). The pH was highest up to 6 hours after feeding the animals. Highest level of ammonia nitrogen (36.28 mg / dL) was observed 3 hours after feed supply. Concentrations of acetic acid was highest (72.59 mmol /L) 9 hours after feed supply (P<0.05), however the highest level of propionic (22.94 mmol / L) occur after 12 hours (P<0.05), and butiric acid had highest level 15 hours after feed supply (P<0.001). The use of different doses of the blend with Enterococcus faecium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae did not affect the ruminal parameters.

Keywords: Feedlot, Probiotic, Ruminal parameter