97 Effect of a Combination of Live Yeast and Yeast Cell Wall Products Supplemented before and after Weaning on Heifer Growth Performance and Heat Stress

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2018-03, Vol.96 (suppl_1), p.56-56
• Main Authors: Palmer, E A, Kegley, E B, Beck, P A, Ball, J J, Koltes, J E, Chewning, S, Hornsby, J A, Reynolds, J L, Shoulders, B P, Cravey, M D, Powell, J G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky027.105

Abstract Heifer calves (n = 95; initial BW = 165 ± 27 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of live yeast and yeast cell wall products fed prior to weaning and through a backgrounding period. Heifer calves were stratified based on BW, birthdate, sire, and dam parity; and were assigned randomly to pasture (10 pastures, 9 or 10 cow-calf pairs/pasture). Pastures were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments; 1) no yeast (CON), or 2) the addition of yeast product (YP). Calves were offered a 5% salt limiting creep-feed (47.5% cracked corn and 47.5% DDG) at 0.5% of BW for 35 d prior to weaning. The YP creep-feed was formulated to provide 4 g YP/d (3 g of live yeast, and 1 g of yeast cell wall product; Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care, Milwaukee, WI). After weaning, heifers remained in their pre-weaning groups and were fed 1.8 kg/d of a grain supplement for 42 d; YP continued to provide 4 g of YP/d. Body weights were collected on d -1, 0, 21, 35 (weaning), 49, 63, 76, and 77. A subsample of calves (3 calves/pasture) were fitted with vaginal temperature probes (iButton DS1922L thermosensors, Digi-key Thief River Falls, MN) for 2 wk prior to weaning and a second subsample 2 wk post-weaning. Daily water intake was recorded on 8 pens (4 pens/treatment) during backgrounding. Body weights were not affected (P ≥ 0.22) by YP supplementation prior to or after weaning. Overall ADG was not different (P = 0.22) between CON and YP from d 0 to 77. Average daily gain prior to weaning was not different (P ≥ 0.45) between treatments. However, CON (1.05 kg/d) had an increased (P = 0.01) ADG compared to YP (0.93 kg/d) from weaning to the end of the backgrounding period (d 77). Yeast product supplementation did not alter (P = 0.41) DMI between CON (0.65 kg/d) and YP (0.64 kg/d) during the 35 d creep-feeding period. Heifers offered YP consumed an average of 3.2 g/d of the YP through the creep-feeding period. Vaginal temperatures were not affected by treatment before weaning (P =0.31) nor were they different after weaning (P = 0.37). Water intake during the 42-d backgrounding period was not impacted (P = 0.49) by treatment. In summary, post-weaning ADG was negatively impacted by YP; however, overall ADG from d 0 to 77 and vaginal temperatures were not affected by YP supplementation.