MycoCell

MycoCell is a concentrated source of a single elite strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast used as a rumen stimulant to stabilize rumen pH and enhance fiber digesting populations of rumen bacteria.

The rumen is the major part of the ruminant digestive system where the ingested feeds are fermented. Rumen fermentation is carried out by rumen bacteria, fungi and protozoa that all live in the same ecosystem. The extent of rumen microbial activity affects fiber digestion which is in turn highly correlated with animal feed intake. Normally, the faster the rumen fiber is digested the more feed the animal will eat.

Different microbial activities result in different fermentation products and consequently affect animal production and feed utilization. For example, Bacteroides succinogenes ferments cellulose to produce formic, acetic and succinic acids that can be used by the host animal, while Methanobacterium ruminantium utilizes formate and hydrogen for production of methane which is a waste material.

Optimization of rumen fermentation, including maximizing rumen fiber digestion and microbial synthesis while minimizing protein degradation, ammonia and methane production has been a popular research topic. Research has shown that certain strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae can improve rumen fermentation, thereby increasing animal production.

Certain yeasts have been shown to stimulate increased lactate utilisation by rumen bacteria including the species Megasphaera elsdenii and Selenomonas ruminantium while others have been shown to have a positive effect on the activity of fibrolytic bacteria such as Bacteroides succinogenes and Ruminococcus albus.

During the screening and selection program that ultimately identified Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain R404 as the product Strain for MycoCell, the ability of the candidate strains of yeasts to stimulate fibrolytic and lactate-utilising bacteria bacteria was assessed as part of the primary screening.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae included in MycoCell was selected through the following basic screening procedures:

Strains of Bacteroides succinogenes and Ruminococcus albus with species typical characteristics were chosen as strains of cellulolytic rumen bacteria. A strain of Megasphaera elsdenii with species typical characteristics was chosen as a strain of a lactate-utilising rumen bacterium.

MycoCell significantly stimulated the growth of populations of rumen bacteria responsible for fibre digestion and lactate utilization. When used as a rumen stimulant, MycoCell provides for a more stable rumen pH and enhanced rates of fiber digestion which results in greater feed intake, better digestion and improved production.

Characteristics of MycoCell

• Increases rumen total and cellulolytic bacteria
• Increases fiber digestion
• Stabilizes rumen pH
• Reduces rumen methane production
• Resistant to many antibiotics and ionophores
• Fully compatible with trace minerals.

Use of MycoCell

MycoCell can be applied directly to feed as a top dress, via the TMR or in coarse mixed rations.

MycoCell is available in Farm Pack formulations of 300 or 2000 units of 5g doses and concentrates of 1000 and 15000 units of 1g doses to suit the desired application. Each dose of MycoCell provides 10 billion cfu of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells.

Storage

MycoCell contains live microorganisms. Store in original sealed packaging in a cool, dry place to maximize shelf life.

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