Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care: Making a Positive Difference in Animal Health and Performance

Published on Thu, 01/25/2018 - 11:42am

Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care: Making a Positive Difference in Animal Health and Performance

By Steve Weisman

There is an old adage “we are what we eat,” and scientific studies are bearing this statement out every day. As a result, consumers are becoming more health conscious and more knowledgeable about where their food comes from and how it has been grown and/or raised. In response, farmers and ranchers across the country are realizing the importance of the health of their dairy cattle.  The questions then arise for dairy producers: To whom do we turn for answers? Who can we trust to help us raise the healthiest animals possible?

At the forefront of this agricultural movement is Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care (www.phileo-lesaffre.com), the animal health and nutrition business unit of Lesaffre Yeast Corporation (LYC) located in France. Phileo-Lesaffre is a global expert in the field of yeast and yeast extract with a global presence in more than 70 countries with 16 production sites across the five continents.
With its U. S. headquarters in Milwaukee, WI and plants in Cedar Rapids, IA and Dothan, AL, Phileo-Lesaffre is committed to help provide America’s producers with evidence-based solutions that enhance animal health and performance. Years of study by the research and development team of microbiologists, engineers, nutritionists and veterinarians have proven that feeding animals a yeast supplement enhances many facets of animal’s performance:
• Improvements in digestibility and bioavailability, for better feed conversion and performance
• Cost-effective nutritional alternatives, providing substitutes for unsustainable or limited feed sources
• Control of the risk associated with bacterial toxins and mycotoxins through binding and detoxification
• Enhancement of immune response and digestive health in preventive management
• Reduction of pathogen pressure to help limit the risk of antibiotic resistance
• Optimization of the physiological mechanisms against stress, to support animal well-being.
Yeast Propagation

Dr. Joe Ward, who is North America Project Manager, has been in the animal research and health business for over 30 years. He says the research and development team has spent years working to develop literally thousands of strains of yeast through yeast propagation and selection. “Our researchers and production teams grow live yeast tailored with a specific outcome in mind to enhance animal health and performance. We grow live yeast, safely … without using any drugs or harmful additives. The end result is that animals are healthy, perform well and everything we produce is ecologically safe for the environment and safe for humans.”

A Series of Studies
Matt Cravey, Ph. D., PAS and head of the North American Ruminant Programs here in the United States has been a part of research and studies for the past several years.  According to Cravey, research of both dairy and beef animals through the use of a variety of Phileo yeast strains continues to show science-based solutions that positively and safely enhance animal health and performance.  
Several studies deal with Phileo’s ActiSaf Sc 47, which is a specifically selected patented yeast strain of live yeast concentrate Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Sc 47. ActiSaf Sc47 HR+ is the thermostable form that is produced by a unique Lesaffre manufacturing process that ensures better stability; in turn more yeast cells reach the rumen or intestines alive. Actisaf has been found to improve growth rates by up to nine percent, increase dry matter intakes, improve feed conversion rates, improve carcass classification, reduce the risk of acidosis and reduce lameness.
In a discussion of a recently completed research in Israel at the Department of Dairy Cattle, Institute of Animal Sciences, Volcani Center, Cravey notes the effects of live yeast supplementation fed to dairy cows during the hot season on production, feed efficiency and digestibility. Two groups of dairy cows were part of this study with one controlled group consuming diets supplemented with ActiSaf, while the other group was fed their regular diet without ActiSaf. “Results demonstrated that the dry matter intake, milk yield and rumen pH were higher for the group with ActiSaf than the control group without supplemental ActiSaf. The buffering affect of our live yeast is due in part to an improved lactic acid utilization in the rumen. Essentially, ActiSaf is altering the rumen environment to enhance the preferred bacterial population improving feedstuff digestibility and improving animal performance.”
The impact of supplementing ActiSaf during the dry period on milk somatic cell counts (SCC) and health in post-calving dairy cows was investigated at the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno in the Czech Republic. Milk SCC was monitored during the 17 weeks following calving of dairy cows. Results demonstrated that dairy cows fed ActiSaf had a significant decrease in SCC by 63 percent (P< .05) during the first four weeks post calving. Colostrum quality (total Ig mg/ml) increased significantly (P<0.05) by 34 percent in the ActiSaf fed group. In addition, at week seven post-calving, metritis cases were significantly reduced with the group receiving ActiSaf. A reduction in the incidence of clinical mastitis cases was observed in the ActiSaf fed group resulting in a significant decrease in veterinary treatment costs.

Cravey also discusses the positive results in two research studies that feature OptiSaf Beef, a proprietary concentrated blend of selected strains of live yeast. The first study took place in the Southeast using recently weaned calves that had been exposed to conditions that would considered by industry standards to be at high-risk. “In this study, OptiSaf Beef improved calf weight gains by about 10 pounds per head over a 56-day period versus a similar group of calves that did not receive OptiSaf Beef. This 10-pound advantage held true throughout a subsequent 90-day grazing period. Additionally, the calves receiving the OptiSaf Beef had fewer second treatments indicating improved health.”
A similar study conducted by Dr. Jeff Carroll at the USDA facility near Lubbock, TX, showed the same positive results for a group of feedlot cattle under heat stress. The OptiSaf Beef fed cattle perform significantly better than the group of cattle not receiving OptiSaf Beef. Cravey says, “This study shows that OptiSaf Beef significantly reduced the negative effects of heat stress on beef cattle.”
Phileo Leaffre Animal Care is working at the crossroads of health and nutrition, committed to delivering evidence-based solutions to improve animal performance and health. Ward notes that there are several research studies currently underway both in the United States and globally to investigate the best practices and combinations for using live yeast and various yeast components in all stage of animal production. The Lesaffre group is working together to better feed and better protect the planet by making a positive impact on animal performance and health.
Producers wanting to learn more about products can go to their local feed supplier and ask for Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care products by name, or they can contact the company through the website at  www.phileo-lesaffre.com.