Effects of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Culture on In Vitro Mixed Ruminal Microorganism Fermentation

Previous research has shown that Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture increases lactate utilization and cellulose digestion by pure cultures of ruminal bacteria. Based on these pure culture results, in vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentations were conducted to determine the effects of 0.35 and 0.73 g/L of Sacc. cerevisiae culture on the fermentation of ground corn, maltose, alfalfa hay, bermudagrass hay, and lactate. In addition, experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of Sacc. cerevisiae culture and monensin on the mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation. In the presence of ground corn, both concentrations of Sacc. cerevisiae culture had little effect on final pH or fermentation products, except the 0.35 g/L treatment increased valerate concentration. Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture had little effect on final pH or fermentation products in maltose or lactate fermentations. When alfalfa hay was the substrate, 0.73 g/L of Sacc. cerevisiae culture increased propionate concentration and both treatments decreased the acetate to propionate ratio. In the case of Coastal bermudagrass hay, 0.73 g/L Sacc. cerevisiae culture increased concentrations of acetate, propionate, CH4, butyrate, isovalerate, valerate, and decreased the acetate to propionate ratio, whereas both treatments increased total volatile fatty acid concentrations. Similar to alfalfa hay, in vitro dry matter disappearance of Coastal bermudagrass hay was numerically increased in the presence of Sacc. cerevisiae culture. Monensin altered the fermentation by decreasing concentrations of CH4 and lactate and increasing concentrations of propionate. There was no interaction between Sacc. cerevisiae culture and monensin. In conclusion, the incorporation of Sacc. cerevisiae culture into mixed ruminal microorganism fermentations of ground corn, maltose, or lactate had little effect on final pH and fermentation products. However, in the presence of alfalfa hay or Coastal bermudagrass hay Sacc. cerevisiae culture increased concentrations of several fermentation products and numerically increased in vitro dry matter disappearance of forage fiber.