Yeast cell wall supplementation alters the performance and health of beef heifers during the receiving period

Authors: YOUNG, TANNER - Texas Tech University; RIBEIRO, FLAVIO - Texas Tech University; Sanchez, Nicole; Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll; JENNINGS, M - Texas Tech University; CRIBBS, JOSHUA - Texas Tech University; RATHMANN, RYAN - Texas Tech University; CORLEY, JIMMIE - Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care; JOHNSON, BRADLEY - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: Professional Animal Scientist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/30/2016
Publication Date: 3/27/2017
Citation: Young, T.R., Ribeiro, F.R., Sanchez, N.C., Carroll, J.A., Jennings, M.A., Cribbs, J.T., Rathmann, R.J., Corley, J.R., Johnson, B.J. 2017. Yeast cell wall supplementation alters the performance and health of beef heifers during the receiving period. Professional Animal Scientist. 33:166-175.

Interpretive Summary: This study represents a collaborative effort between Texas Tech University, the USDA-ARS-LIRU, and Phileo-Lesaffre Animal Care to determine the influence of yeast cell wall products on the performance and immune response to a subcutaneous endotoxin challenge. The receiving period into the feedlot is perhaps the most critical time during the feeding period. Calves may experience stress during this time from weaning, transportation, exposure to new pathogens, etc. Yeast cell wall (YCW) supplementation has proved to have positive effects on cattle performance during the receiving period. Thus, the objectives of this study were to: 1) examine the effects of 3 YCW products on animal performance and health during a 56-d receiving period; and 2) determine the effects of these products on animal performance and response to a mild endotoxin challenge. Results from this study suggest supplementation of yeast cell wall might improve the immune response of cattle, as implicated by increased vaginal temperatures and improved performance during a period of elevated ambient temperature. This could lead to improved performance and more favorable costs of gain associated with lowered treatment costs. Yeast cell wall supplementation might result in advantages in performance and health and be a valuable tool to today’s producers. These data will be of interest to immunologists and physiologists as well as beef cattle producers.

Technical Abstract: A study was designed to determine the effect of feeding yeast cell wall (YCW) on performance of newly received crossbred heifers (n = 140; 225 ± 9.4 kg) Heifers were sorted by source (n = 2) and arranged in a completely randomized block design (35 pens; 7 pens/treatment; 4 heifers/pen). Heifers were separated into treatments: Control (CON), YCW A (2.5 g•hd-1•d-1), YCW AA (5.0 g•hd-1•d-1), YCW B (2.5 g•hd-1•d-1), or YCW C (2.5 g•hd-1•d-1) and were fed for 56 d. Daily DMI and individual BW (every 14 d) was collected. On d 56, cattle in treatments CON, YCW A, and YCW C were fitted with vaginal temperature (VT) probes. Cattle were re-weighed and challenged with a subcutaneous dose (0.5 µg/kg BW) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A final BW and vaginal probes removed after 14 d. A significant source x treatment interaction was detected, and data were separated accordingly. In Source 1, YCW-C treatment exhibited greater BW at d 42 and ADG from 0 to 42 d compared with all other treatments (P = 0.02 and P < 0.01). Following the subcutaneous LPS challenge, in Source 1 YCW-C exhibited greater ADG (P < 0.01) and G:F (P = 0.01) compared with CON. There was an increase in VT in all treatments post-LPS (P < 0.01), with YCW-C maintaining greater VT post-LPS than CON and YCW-A (P < 0.05) for both sources. These results suggest that YCW supplementation can improve ADG and DMI during the receiving period and affect the physiological response to a mild endotoxin challenge during high heat stress.