AMAFERM in Dairy Cattle

Healthy milk production depends on a cow’s ability to efficiently digest forages. It is important to have adequate levels of fiber from forage in the diet to establish rumen microflora populations that are essential for optimal rumen fermentation. Cows with inadequate levels of forages can have lower rumen pH and decreased rumination. This can result in acidosis, depressed butterfat levels, foot and leg problems, breeding problems, lowered body condition and depressed milk production. Amaferm increases essential rumen bacteria and fungi allowing more forage to be fed in the diet insuring healthier cows who live longer and produce more milk. A composite of research studies show an average increase in milk production on cows fed Amaferm of 4.73% with an 11% increase on early lactation cows and a 6.32% increase on heat stressed cows.

Dairy Cattle Research Findings

Milk Production

Marcus et al.,  1986

Amaferm increased adjusted 3.5% FCM by 5.9% compared with control cows, in Holstein cows that were in a lactation study that went from June to November in Arizona.  (Marcus, K.M., J.T. Huber, and S. Cramer, 1986.  Influence of Feeding Vita Ferm During Hot Weather on Performance of Lactating Cows in a Large Dairy Herd.  J. Dairy Sci. 69 (Suppl 1):188. (Abstr.)

Wallentine et al., 1986

Amaferm resulted in a 12% increase in 4% FCM in early lactation and a 3.7% increase in 4% FCM for the total lactation, with similar feed intakes as controls, and the greatest response was during times of high ambient temperature.  (Wallentine, M.V.., N.P. Johnston, D. Andrus, R. Jones, J.T. Huber, and G. Higginbotham, 1986).    The Effect of Feeding an Aspergill1us oryzae Culture-Vitamin Mix on Performance of Lactating Dairy Cows During Periods of Heat Stress.  J. Dairy Sci. 69(Suppl 1):189.(Abstr.)

Kellems et al., 1990

In a complete lactation study with 150 early-lactation Holstein cows, Amaferm increased total milk production per cow by 6.5% overall, and increased milk production per cow by 10.2% from week 18 to the end of lactation, with no increase in feed intake, compared to the control cows.  (Kellems, R.O., A. Lagerstedt and M.V. Wallentine.  1990.  Effect of Feeding Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract or Aspergillus oryzae plus Yeast Culture plus Mineral and Vitamin Supplement on Performance of Holstein Cows during a Complete Lactation.   J. Dairy Sci. 73:2922-2928).

Gomez-Alarcon et al., 1991

In early-lactation Holstein cows fed a 60% concentrate diet, Amaferm has been shown to result in an increase in milk production and feed efficiency, with cows receiving Amaferm requiring less time after parturition to maximize feed intake, resulting in 6 to 7% more milk yield throughout a 12 week lactation study.  (Gomez-Alarcon, R.A., J.T. Huber, G.E. Higginbotham, F. Wiersma, D. Ammon and B. Taylor. 1991. “Influence of feeding Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract on the Milk Yields, Eating Patterns and Body Temperatures of Lactating Cows.” J. Anim. Sci. 69:1733-1740).

Huber et al., 1994

In a compilation of 14 different lactation studies, 3 g/d of Amaferm was found to result in a mean increase in milk yield of 1.0 kg/day, or 4%, and the response was greatest with early lactation cows fed higher concentrate diets compared with mid to late lactation cows.  (Huber, J.T., G. Higginbotham, R.A. Gomez-Alarcon, R.B. Taylor, K.H. Chen, S.C. Chan and Z. Wu. 1994.  Heat Stress Interactions with Protein, Supplemental Fat, and Fungal Cultures.  J. Dairy Sci. 77:2080-2090).

Yu et al., 1997

Amaferm addition increased milk solids, non-fat, percentages and tended to increase milk protein percentages in Holstein cows averaging 92 days in milk.  (Yu, P., J. T. Huber, C. B. Theurer, K. H. Chen, L. G. Nussio, and Z. Wu.  1997.  Effect of Steam-Flaked or Steam-Rolled Corn with or Without Aspergillus oryzae in the Diet on Performance of Dairy Cows Fed During Hot Weather.  J. Dairy Sci. 80:3293-3297).

Chiou et al., 2002

Amaferm inclusion in corn silage improved dry matter intake by 4.4% and milk yield by 3.1% during summer, and in the winter, Amaferm supplementation improved milk yield by 10% while increasing milk protein content.  (Chiou, P.W.S.; Chen, C.R.; Yu, B.  2002.  Effects of Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract on performance of lactating cows in the summer and winter in Taiwan.  Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences. 15:382-389).

Kim et al., 2006

During the transition period, from two days prior to calving to 1 day after calving, Amaferm resulted in an increase in the cow’s dry matter intake as well as increasing the milk fat content.  (Kim, H.S., B. S. Ahn, S. G. Chung, Y. H. Moon, J. K. Ha, I. J. Seo, B. H. Ahn, S. S. Lee.  2006.  Effect of yeast culture, fungal fermentation extract and non-ionic surfactant on performance of Holstein cows during transition period.  Animal Feed Science and Technology. 126:23-29).

pH

Westvig et al., 1991

Amaferm supplementation has been shown to result in increased ruminal pH at 1 and 24 hours post-feeding compared with non-Amaferm supplemented steers that were fed a low-protein hay diet, with or without barley supplementation fed at the rate of six pounds per animal per day.  (Westvig, R.M., J.S. Caton and D.O. Erickson. 1991. “Influence of Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract (Amaferm) and Barley Supplementation on In-Situ Nutrient Degradability and Ruminal pH in Steers Fed Low-Quality Hay.” J. Anim. Sci.  Western Sec. Proc. 42:247-251).

Heat Stress Tolerance

Marcus et al.  1986

Amaferm reduced mean rectal temperatures, taken in the p.m., by .4 degrees Fahrenheit in Holstein cows that were in a lactation study that went from June to November in Arizona.  (Marcus, K.M., J.T. Huber, and S. Cramer, 1986.  Influence of Feeding Vita Ferm During Hot Weather on Performance of Lactating Cows in a Large Dairy Herd.  J. Dairy Sci. 69 (Suppl 1):188. (Abstr.)

Gomez-Alarcon et al., 1991

Amaferm has been shown to reduce rectal temperatures in 40% of the readings taken on mid-lactation Holstein cows during the summer in Arizona.  (Gomez-Alarcon, R.A., J.T. Huber, G.E. Higginbotham, F. Wiersma, D. Ammon and B. Taylor. 1991. “Influence of feeding Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract on the Milk Yields, Eating Patterns and Body Temperatures of Lactating Cows.” J. Anim. Sci. 69:1733-1740).

Neonatal Calves

Beharka et al., 1991

Newly born Holstein calves supplemented with Amaferm were able to be weaned one week earlier than calves not supplemented with Amaferm, and they had increased numbers of ruminal bacteria resulting in greater ruminal fermentative activity.  (Beharka, A. A., T. G. Nagaraja, and J. L. Morrill.  1991.  Performance and ruminal function development of young calves fed diets with Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract.  J. Dairy Sci.  74:4326-4336).