Novel Interventions for BRD
by Troy Smith, field editor
MANHATTAN, Kan. (June 8, 2016) — There is ample evidence suggesting that supplementing cattle diets with yeast can benefit the rumen microbial community, but Jeff Carroll thinks the benefits may go far beyond enhancement of digestion. Based at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service’s Livestock Issues Research Unit in Lubbock, Texas, Carroll studies how the physiological and behavioral responses to stress impact the immune function of food animals. He believes yeast, when added to cattle diets, holds much promise for mitigating the effects of certain stressors and improving cattle health.
Jeff Carroll noted that BRD remains as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in U.S. feedlots, representing an average cost of $23.60 per head for treatment. Tools for treating BRD are limited, he added, calling antibiotic therapy the primary strategy.
Carroll presented findings from related research during the 5th International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare hosted in Manhattan, Kan., June 8-10, 2016. More specifically, Carroll’s findings suggest that feeding live yeast strains and yeast cell wall products may be a viable way to battle bovine respiratory disease (BRD).
Carroll noted that BRD remains as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in U.S. feedlots, representing an average cost of $23.60 per head for treatment. Tools for treating BRD are limited, he added, calling antibiotic therapy the primary strategy.
“The future use of antibiotics is unsure, and alternatives must be explored,” stated Carroll, alluding to growing scrutiny of antibiotics used by animal agriculture.
Carroll said experiments at Lubbock were designed to determine the effects of yeast supplementation on immune response and metabolism of cattle facing a challenge from viral-bacterial agents associated with BRD. Results indicated that, compared to a control group, yeast-supplemented cattle experienced reduced need to call upon metabolic energy resources typically associated with immune response. Yeast-supplemented cattle tended to have decreased inflammatory response to disease challenge and levels of blood neutrophils (white cells summoned to combat inflammation) were lower. Yeast supplementation also reduced the severity of nasal lesions associated with respiratory infection.
“Collectively, this data suggests that providing a combination of live yeast and yeast cell wall products may be beneficial in reducing severity of bovine respiratory disease in feedlot cattle,” stated Carroll.
Additionally, the study showed that water consumption among yeast-supplemented cattle increased after the disease challenge. Frequency of visits to water and total intake both were increased — behaviors aiding mitigation of higher temperatures.
“We may be onto some supplementation strategies that could increase heat resistance,” opined Carroll. “There may be a ton of things yeast products can do, but we need more research.”
Watch for additional coverage of the 2016 ISBCW on www.angus.media and in the Angus Journal and Angus Beef Bulletin. Comprehensive meeting coverage will be archived at www.api-virtuallibrary.com/meetings_other_news.html.
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