Search for: All records

Previous studies have evaluated the metabolic status of animals fed direct-fed microbial (DFM) using enzyme-based assays which are time-consuming and limited to a few metabolites. In addition, little emphasis has been placed on investigating the effects of DFM on hindgut microbiota. We examined the effects of dietary supplementation of a blend of Saccharomyces cerevisiae-based DFM and fermentation products on the plasma concentrations of carbonyl-containing metabolites via a metabolomics approach, and fecal bacterial community, via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, of beef steers during a 42-day receiving period. Forty newly weaned steers were randomly assigned to receive a basal diet with no additive (CON; n = 20) or a basal diet supplemented with 19 g of Commence™ (PROB; n = 20) for a 42-day period. Commence™ (PMI, Arden Hills, MN) is a blend of 6.2 × 1011 cfu/g of S. cerevisiae, 3.5 × 1010 cfu/g of a mixture of Enterococcus lactis, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium, and Lactobacillus casei, and the fermentation products of these aforementioned microorganisms and those of Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger. On d 0 and 40, rectal fecal samples were collected randomly from 10 steers from each treatment group. On d 42, blood was collected for plasma preparation.