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.
Feed Lot Research - Starting
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.
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.
Feed Lot Research - Growing
North Dakota State University Trial
Eighty-four Charolais crossbred heifers (571.4 ± 5.4 lb) were used to determine the effects of 2 grams/head/day Amaferm supplementation on calf performance when fed in high forage grower diets in an 84 day study. Heifers were fed a corn-silage and oat hay based growing ration (63% of diet, DM basis). Total ADG was improved (P <.02) by 5.1% by Amaferm compared with control heifers. Feed efficiency was also improved (P <.03) by 6.0% for Amaferm. Results indicate that Amaferm has a positive effect on heifer growth when fed with high forage-based growing diets.
(Dhuyvetter et al., 1995. NDSU Dickinson Research Center Report)
Kansas State University Trial
This trial was 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 stover, 40% wheat midds, 5% cottonseed meal and 2% supplement. In this 69 day trial, the Amaferm calves had a 5.8% greater ADG, an 8% increase in feed intake, and a 4% improvement in feed efficiency.
Feed Lot Research - Finishing
Ohio State University Trial
This natural finishing trial used 168 head of crossbred steers with a starting weight of 661 pounds that were fed for 150 days. Diets contained 76% dry corn and 10% corn silage. Cattle fed Amaferm had a 7.2% improvement in feed efficiency (P<.05) compared with cattle not fed Amaferm, and required only 4.8 pounds of dry matter intake per pound of gain.
(Zerby et al., 2011. Journal of Animal Science. 89:2257–2264)
