Application of yeast cell wall in cattle farming

      With the increasing demand for green and safe breeding in animal husbandry, Yeast Cell Wall (YCW), as a natural feed additive, has gradually become a highly regarded nutritional supplement in cattle farming due to its unique bioactive ingredients. Research has shown that yeast cell walls play a significant role in enhancing herd immunity, optimizing rumen function, and improving growth performance, without the risk of antibiotic residue, which meets the requirements of sustainable development in modern animal husbandry.

1、 The main components and mechanism of action of yeast cell wall
      The main active components of yeast cell wall include β - glucan, MOS, chitin, as well as small amounts of protein and lipids. These components work through the following mechanisms:

Immune regulatory effect:
      β - glucan can activate macrophages and neutrophils, promote cytokine release, enhance innate immune response in cattle, and reduce the risk of pathogen infection.

Adsorption of pathogenic bacteria:
      Mannan oligosaccharides competitively bind to the pili of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella, preventing them from adhering to the intestinal mucosa and reducing digestive system diseases such as diarrhea.

Probiotic effects:
      The yeast cell wall provides nutrients for beneficial microorganisms in the rumen, such as lactic acid bacteria and fiber degrading bacteria, promotes the proliferation of probiotics, and improves the rumen fermentation environment.

2、 The core application value of yeast cell wall in cattle breeding
       1. Improve rumen health and digestive efficiency
      Stabilize rumen pH: By promoting the growth of fiber degrading bacteria, accelerating the degradation of crude fibers, reducing lactate accumulation, and avoiding rumen acidosis.

      Improving feed utilization rate: Experiments have shown that adding yeast cell walls can increase feed conversion rate by 5% to 8%, especially for cattle fed with high-precision feed.

2. Enhance disease resistance and reduce antibiotic dependence
      Yeast cell wall can reduce the incidence rate of respiratory diseases and mastitis in calves by enhancing mucosal immunity (such as intestinal secretory IgA) and systemic immunity.

      Used during weaning or transportation stress periods, it can alleviate immune suppression and reduce mortality.

3. Promote growth and production performance
      Beef cattle fattening: Supplementing yeast cell walls can increase daily weight gain (about 6%~10%) and improve meat quality (such as marble pattern score).

      Cow milk production: By optimizing rumen metabolism, increasing volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, improving milk yield (5%~7%) and milk fat percentage.

4. Environmental Protection and Economic Benefits
      Reduce methane emissions: improve rumen fermentation mode, inhibit methane producing bacteria activity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (about 15%~20%).

      Reduce medical costs: By preventing diseases and reducing the use of antibiotics, it meets the requirements of the "reducing resistance" policy.

3、 Practical application suggestions
      Recommended dosage:

      Calves: 2-4 grams per head per day;

      Fattening cattle: 5-8 grams per head per day;

      Lactating cattle: 8-10 grams per head per day.

      Mixing method: It can be directly mixed with concentrate or fed through TMR (fully mixed diet), ensuring even distribution.

Applicable stage:

      Stress period (weaning, transition, high temperature);

      High precision feed fattening period;

      Postpartum dairy cows (prevention of metabolic diseases).

4、 Research Support and Prospects
      Multiple studies have validated the potential applications of yeast cell walls:

      Kansas State University experiment: Adding yeast cell walls to the diet of lactating cows increased milk production by 6.3% and reduced somatic cell count (SCC) by 18%.

      China Agricultural University experiment: Daily weight gain of beef cattle increased by 9.5%, and diarrhea rate decreased by 40%.

      In the future, with the improvement of yeast extraction technology (such as enzymatic wall breaking technology) and the development of precise nutrition solutions, the application cost of yeast cell walls is expected to be further reduced, providing a more economical health management solution for the cattle industry.