AMAFERM in Beef Cattle

Managing the rumen through change and stress is a challenge faced by all in the industry. The rumen's ecosystem is always in a state of dynamic change with any stress posing a threat of changing the balance from an efficient into an inefficient fermentation vat. The rumen fungi's importance in maintaining this balance is key and it is clear that the beneficial effects of Amaferm supplementation are mediated via the endogenous fungi population.

Amaferm is not a yeast, hormone, antibiotic, or probiotic but an all-natural feed additive. Unlike generic Aspergillus oryzae, Amaferm is exclusively designed and manufactured for animals. The proven benefits of Amaferm in the diets of animals results in increased feed utilization, increased animal performance, and greater return on the feed dollar.

Beef Cattle Research Findings

Avg Daily Gain / Weaning Weight

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Trial

Newly arrived feeder cattle receiving Amaferm had a 7 pound advantage in average weight gain for the first 15 days. Over the entire 38 day trial, cattle receiving Amaferm gained 3.78 lbs./hd./day compared to 3.50 lbs./hd./day for the control cattle.

North Dakota State University Trial

This trial conducted at the Dickinson Research and Extension Center involved 84 Charolais crossbred heifers weighing 571.4 plus or minus 5.4 lbs.  The ration for this 84 day trial was a TMR of corn silage, oat hay, barley, protein and a mineral supplement.  The calves fed Amaferm had a significantly higher ADG (2.27 versus 2.16) over controls and also a significant higher feed to gain ratio.

University of Illinois Trial

This trial was conducted with the cooperation of the University of Illinois involving 180 head of Holstein steers purchased in Oklahoma City and shipped to Illinois.  The ration consisted of dry hay, corn silage, corn, protein and a mineral supplement.  The gain for the first the first 15 days was .49/lbs/day greater than the controls.  The Amaferm fed calves had a significantly higher ADG over the entire 36 day feeding period.

University of North Carolina State Trial

The trial conducted by the University of North Carolina State involved 56 head of 500 lbs Angus—Angus/Hereford cross steers.  The steers were purchased locally through a North Carolina Graded Calf Sale.  Calves were fed a TMR ration of corn silage, soybean meal and a mineral.  The calves randomly sorted and weighed at 28 day of the trial.  The Amaferm fed calves gained .53 lbs/day (P<0.05) more than controls and feed cost per cwt of gain was 28% less.    

Nebraska Feeder Trial

These two trials involved 49 head of 450-500 lbs heifer calves.  The ration was a TMR mix of 50:50 roughage to concentrate at the beginning and steeped up weekly to a 25:75 by week three.  The trial period was 30 days with the heifers showing a 9.1% improvement in ADG in trial 1 and a 7.1% in trial two.  Feed efficiency was also improved by 7.5% in both trials.

Kansas State University Trial

This trial conducted at the Southwest Research Extension Center in Garden City, KS.  It involved 50 head of English crossbred steers weighing 700 lbs.  The diet consisted of 53% corn stove, 40% wheat midds, 5% cottonseed meal and 2% supplement.  In this 69 day trial the Amaferm calves had higher ADG (5.8%), feed intakes (9%), and feed: gain (4%). 

Heat Stress Tolerance

Caton et al., 1993

Steers grazing cool-season pastures had increased dry matter intake and fiber digestibility during July and August when pastures were dormant, when supplemented with Amaferm.  (Caton, J. S., D. O. Erickson, D. A. Carey, and D. L. Ulmer.  1993.  Influence of Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract on forage intake, site of digestion, in situ degradability, and duodenal amino acid flow in steers grazing cool-season pasture.  J. Anim. Sci. 71:779-787).