Effects of yeast and yeast cell wall on performance and health of newly received beef steers and heifers grazing bahiagrass pastures

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this project was to evaluate the effects of feeding yeast and yeast cell wall (YP) on health and performance of high-risk, newly received beef cattle. Materials and Methods: Steers and heifers (n = 240, BW = 183.0 ± 1.66 kg) were shipped to White Sand Branch Unit. At arrival, they were assigned randomly to pasture replicates (n = 16), and pasture was randomly assigned to treatment of YP (5 g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae + 5 g of yeast cell wall offered per head daily) or no added yeast or cell wall (CON) via a co-product–based feed while cattle grazed bahiagrass pastures. Results and Discussion: Feeding YP tended to increase d-56 BW (P = 0.09) and tended to increase ADG from d 0 to 56 (P = 0.10). Supplement DMI did not differ at any time during the study (P < 0.19); however, it was lower than projected, thereby YP intake was lower than targeted 10 g/d (58% of target from d 0–7 and 90.4% from target the first 28 d). No effect of YP was noted on morbidity, or percentage of cattle removed from the study (P ≥ 0.61) or serum antibody production (P = 0.78); however, YP tended (P = 0.08) to increase percentage of animals requiring one treatment and reduced (P = 0.05) second treatment cost. Implications and Applications: Feeding YP resulted in limited effects on performance and health response; however, the response may have been delayed due to poor intake following arrival in all animals.