Trial finds probiotics push weight gain in cattle

A trial conducted at Charles Sturt University’s feedlot in Wagga Wagga, NSW, has shown a 4.6% weight per day advantage from using a probiotic feed supplement

More than 260 Angus cattle from six breeders across southern NSW were used in the trial, fed for 106 days and supplemented with the Terragen Dry Ruminant Probiotic feed supplement at different dosage rates.

Professor in Veterinary Physiology with the Charles Sturt Gulbali Research Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment Jane Quinn conducted the trial alongside renowned feedlot veterinarian and ruminant nutritionists Professor Paul Cusack of Australian Livestock Production Services.

“Angus cattle supplied a ration supplemented with the ruminant probiotic gained 4.6% more weight per day compared to a control group that were not,” Professor Quinn said.

“Also of note from the trial was that this group of cattle had a marble score 7% higher than the control.”

The Terragen Dry Ruminant Probiotic supplement was tested against groups of liquid MYLO, Dry Ruminant Probiotic one dose, Dry Ruminant Probiotic two dose and a control group fed no supplement.

“By doing this, we were able to measure if the supplement improved production and carcass characteristics,” Professor Quinn said.

Professor Quinn explained they were bacterial supplements, “a bit like the yogurts or Yakult supplements that you buy in the supermarket for people”.

“Obviously in a ruminant, the gut is the all-important organ. And if we improve gut health, we generally improve a number of other features associated with that, so in this case production, good performance and good health as well,” she said.

“There are probably a number of ways that those probiotics stimulate strong performance to occur, but the primary one we understand is around balancing that gut environment to make it optimal for production.”

Professor Quinn is also working on probiotic studies in sheep, and has been surprised by the early results.

She advised producers to talk to their vet or livestock nutritionist before beginning to use probiotic supplements, which are widely available at produce stores around the nation.

She said the trial was valuable as consumers continue to seek alternatives to synthetic growth stimulants.

“The Terragen probiotic is all natural and developed in Australia, so it provides a commercially viable alternative to beef producers both nationally and internationally,” she said.

“Probiotics present the opportunity for enhancing growth and performance in feedlot steers without recourse to other chemical additives.

“Our trial produced viable results in terms of return on investment of the supplement too.”