Usage of yeast hydrolysate

      Yeast hydrolysate, as a new functional feed material, has gradually become an important choice to replace antibiotics and plasma protein powder. This type of product is made from brewing yeast as raw material, and releases bioactive substances such as nucleic acids, small peptides, free amino acids, B vitamins, and minerals in cells through precise control of autolysis or exogenous enzyme hydrolysis processes. According to the standards of China's "Catalogue of Feed Raw Materials", qualified yeast hydrolysates must have a crude protein content of ≥ 35% and retain complete soluble components. Its value lies not only in its nutritional content, but also in the deep regulatory effects of its functional substances (such as nucleotides, β - glucans, and oligosaccharides) on animal immunity and intestinal health.

1、 Core mechanism of action: Beyond the regulatory effects of nutrition

The biological activity of yeast hydrolysates stems from their unique composition and pathways of action:

Nutrition and Digestive Regulation

      The small peptides (with a molecular weight of about 1000 daltons) and free amino acids rich in yeast hydrolysate can be efficiently absorbed through the intestinal peptide transport carrier PepT1, reducing the burden of intestinal digestion. The taste nucleotides (guanosine and inosine) and glutamic acid contained in it significantly improve feed palatability, increasing sow feed intake by 3.8% and milk production by 14.9%.

Intestinal barrier and microbiota regulation

      Adding 0.5% yeast hydrolysate to weaned piglets can significantly increase the number of Bacillus subtilis in feces and decrease the number of Escherichia coli by 6.53%. β - glucan can activate intestinal macrophages, while mannan oligosaccharides can competitively bind to pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella, preventing their colonization of the intestinal wall.

Synergistic enhancement of immunity and antioxidation

      Nucleotides are key substrates for lymphocyte proliferation. Adding 1.5% yeast hydrolysate to the feed of tilapia in Jifu significantly increased the activities of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lysozyme, and significantly reduced the mortality rate after attacking Streptococcus agalactiae. In calves, supplementing 5g/day of yeast hydrolysate can increase serum levels

Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), reducing the content of malondialdehyde (a marker of oxidative damage).

2、 Application of livestock and poultry production: systematic benefits from piglets to sows

1. Weaned piglets: key choice for replacing plasma protein

      Replacing plasma protein powder with 2-4% yeast hydrolysate in the diet resulted in no significant difference in average daily weight gain for piglets, but improved feed conversion rate by 7-10%.

      The mechanism is that yeast hydrolysate provides small peptides and amino acid digestibility similar to plasma proteins, while supplementing missing nucleotides in breast milk to reduce weaning stress. Experiments have shown that adding 0.5% of the product can significantly reduce the diarrhea rate in piglets and significantly increase the levels of serum complement C3 and C4.

2. Sow reproduction: improving lactation and piglet survival rate

Add 0.3% yeast hydrolysate from late pregnancy to lactation:

      Piglet weaning survival rate increased by 7.49%

      Daily feed intake of sows increased by 3.8%

      Milk production increased by 14.9%

      Its effect is closely related to a 50.75% increase in plasma glutamine (Gln) concentration - Gln is a precursor for milk protein synthesis and an important energy source for intestinal cells.

Table: Summary of the application effect of yeast hydrolysate in pig production

3、 Aquaculture Applications: Green Strategies for Healthy Aquaculture

1. Fish: Replacing fishmeal and combining disease resistance with dual effects

      Replacing 33% fish meal with 1% yeast hydrolysate in the feed of crossbreeding silver carp resulted in an 8.16% increase in weight gain rate and a 24.78% increase in leukocyte phagocytic activity.

      Adding 1.5% product to the feed of Jifu tilapia resulted in the highest specific growth rate (regression analysis showed the optimal addition amount was 1.29%), and the survival rate was significantly improved after infection with Streptococcus agalactiae.

2. Shrimp: precise application of functional ingredients

      Adding 5% high nucleotide yeast extract to the feed of Penaeus vannamei can simultaneously improve growth, digestive enzyme activity, and intestinal health.

      Attention: Excessive addition (such as 3%) may lead to a decrease in weight gain, while low doses (1%) may promote growth but lack immune protection. Therefore, 5-10g/kg is a practical recommended dosage.

4、 Ruminators: Starting from the Health of Calves

      Feeding lactating calves with yeast hydrolysate (5g/head/day) can:

      Improve fur brightness and stool formation

      Increase serum total protein and albumin concentration

Regulating gut microbiota:

      The abundance of Clostridium perfringens (butyrate producing bacteria) has increased, while the potential pathogenic bacteria have decreased

Indicating its practical value in promoting the development and disease defense of young ruminants.