Strains and methods for improving ruminant health and/or performance

Abstract

Described are strains including Enterococcus faecium strain 8G-1 (NRRL B-50173), Enterococcus faecium strain 8G-73 (NRRL B-50172), Bacillus pumilus strain 8G-134 (NRRL B-50174) and strains having all of the identifying characteristics of each of these strains. One or more of the strains can be used to treat or prevent acidosis. They can also be used to improve other measures of ruminant health and / or performance. Methods of using the strains, alone and in combination, are described. Methods of making the strains are also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 119,256, filed Dec. 2, 2008, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.BIBLIOGRAPHY[0002]Complete bibliographic citations of the references referred to herein by the first author's last name and year of publication can be found in the Bibliography section, immediately preceding the claims.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The invention relates to strains and methods for controlling acidosis. More particularly, the invention relates to bacterial strains useful for improving ruminant health and / or performance and methods of making and using the strains.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0004]The feeding of high concentrations of fermentable carbohydrate to ruminants has become a common practice in the beef and dairy cattle industry over the last 50 years. The need for improving the production efficiency and quality of meat has led to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]In at least some embodiments, the administration of the one or more strain to the animal provides at least one of the following benefits in or to the animal when compared to an animal not administered the strain: (a) reduces acidosis, (b) stabilizes ruminal metabolism as indicated by delayed lactic acid accumulation and prolonged production of volatile fatty acids, (c) recovers more quickly from acidosis challenge as measured by pH recovery and lactic acid decline, (d) reduces exhibition of clinical signs associated with acidosis (e) increased milk production in lactating dairy cows, (f) increased milk fat content in lactating dairy cows, (g) decreased somatic cell count (SCC) in lactating dairy cows, (h) improved immunological response and health as evidenced by decreased SCC and (i) increased efficiency of milk production in lactating dairy cows.

Problems solved by technology

Increasing the ruminant consumption of fermentable carbohydrate by feeding higher levels of cereal grains has resulted in increased incidence of metabolic disorders such as acidosis.

However, the effect of excessive carbohydrate on the ruminal microbiota that initiates this response has not been well documented.

Although intensive feeding management is usually quite effective in controlling acidosis, it is very costly to the producer due to the high cost of producing, transporting, chopping forage, disposing of increased animal waste, and lower production efficiencies.

However, these Enterococcus strains failed to adequately control and prevent acidosis.

These techniques have been limited due to unknown growth requirements and unsuitable anaerobic conditions for many of the rumen microorganisms.

Thus, ecological studies relying on these cultivation techniques have been based on a limited understanding of the rumen microbiota.

However, a study of DFM strains Propionibacterium P15, and Enterococcus faecium EF212, and E. faecium EF212, fed alone or fed combined with a yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, indicated that addition of DFM combined with or without yeast had no effect on preventing ruminal acidosis (Yang, W., 2004).

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