Short communication: Apparent ruminal synthesis of B vitamins in lactating dairy cows fed Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product

Apparent ruminal synthesis and duodenal flow of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folates, and vitamin B12 were evaluated in an experiment using 15 ruminally and duodenally cannulated lactating Holstein cows fed a basal diet, according to a crossover design, supplemented or not with 56 g/d of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product. Duration of the treatment period was 28 d. The basal ration had 28% neutral detergent fber, 30% starch and 16.5% crude protein; forages were corn silage (67% of forage dry matter) and alfalfa silage (33% of forage dry matter). Concentrations of B vitamins were analyzed in feed and duodenal digesta. Apparent ruminal synthesis of each B vitamin was calculated as the duodenal flow minus the intake. Under the present experimental conditions, a dietary supplement of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product had no effect apparent synthesis of B vitamins in the rumen or on the amounts of these vitamins reaching the duodenum and available for absorption by the dairy cow.