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Table 4 Impact of various DFM supplementation on health and performance of transition or lactating ruminants

From: Implication and challenges of direct-fed microbial supplementation to improve ruminant production and health

DFM

Dosage

Delivery method

Animal

Health

Performance

Reference

S. cerevisiae

E. faecium

5 × 109 cfu/d

2 × 109 cfu/d

Mixed with 0.5 kg ground corn and top-dressed

Transition dairy cows

No effect on DMI, milk yield, BW, plasma BHBA, NEFA, glucose, haptoglobin

[24]

Lactating dairy cows

(60–70 d in milk)

No effect on DMI, milk yield, milk and blood parameters; lower fecal starch content, greater apparent total-tract digestibility of starch

S. cerevisiae

2 × 1010 cfu/d

In ration

Primiparous lactating dairy cows challenged with SARA

Tended to alleviate SARA symptoms

No effect on DMI and milk yield

[122]

S. cerevisiae

8 × 1010 cfu/d

Mixed with ground corn

Multiparous lactating dairy cows

Improved ruminal pH

Increased DMI, milk yield, total VFA production, higher propionate

[40]

S. cerevisiae CNCM I-1077

1 × 1010 cfu/d

In ration

Lactating dairy cows

No effect on DMI, eating time, milk yield, production efficiency; tended to improve rumination, rumen temperature and milk fat production

[95]

S. cerevisiae CNCM I-4407

5 × 1010 cfu/d

Top-dressed on ration

Lactating dairy cows

Lower ruminal lactate, serum NEFA and BHBA, liver enzyme activities

Increased milk yield, rumen pH 4 h after morning feeding, total VFA and acetate concentration; No impact on propionate and butyrate concentrations; higher glucose at peak lactation

[11]

S. cerevisiae

4 × 109 cfu/d

Incorporated into a grape by-product and mixed with basal diet

Early lactating dairy goats

Similar plasma metabolites and liver enzymes; reduced fecal E. coli and increased lactobacilli (greater stability of intestinal ecosystem)

Greater DMI, milk production

[123]

S. cerevisiae

2 × 1010 cfu/d

In ration

Primi- and multiparous transition and early lactating dairy sheep

Suppressed pro-inflammatory gene expression during peripartum period

Increased milk yield; tended to increase milk fat production; enhanced energy utilization

[124]

Propionibacterium P63

L. plantarum 115

L. rhamnosus 32

P63 or P63 + Lp or P63 + Lr

(1010 cfu/d of each strain)

In high-starch or low-starch diet

Lactating dairy cows

Rumen pH increased; no effect on ruminal VFA; P63 + Lr tended to reduce CH4 emission with low-starch diet

[20]

M. elsdenii

4.8 × 1012 cfu/d

Inoculation through ruminal cannula for 2 d

Lactating dairy cows challenged with SARA

Increased protozoa count, decreased S. bovis count

Increased total VFA concentration in the corn-based group; decreased VFA concentration in the wheat-based group

[42]

P. bryantii 25A

2 × 1011 cells/dose

In ration

Dairy cows in mid-lactation challenged with SARA

No effect on SARA symptoms

No effect on rumen pH

[44]

L. casei Zhang

L. plantarum P-8

1:1: 6.5 × 1010 cfu/d

In ration for 30 d

Primiparous lactating dairy cows

No effect on fecal bacteria richness and diversity; enhanced rumen fermentative and beneficial bacteria; suppressed potential pathogens

No effect on milk fat, protein and lactose contents; increased milk production, milk immunoglobulin G, lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase; decreased somatic cell counts

[125]

S. cerevisiae

Lactococcal

L: 1.6 × 1010 cfu/d;

SC + L: yeast 8 × 1010 cfu/d and L .8 × 109 cfu/d

In ration

Healthy or mastitis lactating dairy cows

Alleviated mastitis by relieving mammary gland inflammation,

reducing milk somatic cell counts, decreasing abundance of mastitis-causing pathogens (Enterococcus and Streptococcus)

[126]

B. licheniformis

B. subtilis

2.56 × 109 viable spores/d in ewe’s feed

Mixed in the corn

Late pregnancy ewes, young lambs

No significant difference in mortality (mainly due to diarrhea)

Higher milk yield for ewes and increased fat and protein content in milk

[127]

L. reuteri DDL 19

L. alimentarius DDL 48

E. faecium DDE 39

B. bifidum spp.

1010 cfu/d

In ration

Mid-lactating dairy goats

More conserved morphological structures in intestine

Increased unsaturated fatty acid concentrations in milk, ruminal production of conjugated linoleic acid

[128]

  1. BHBA Beta-hydroxybutyrate, BW Body weight, DMI Dry matter intake, NEFA Free fatty acids, or non-esterified fatty acids, SARA Subacute rumen acidosis, VFA Volatile fatty acids