Effects of feeding different probiotic types on metabolic, performance, and carcass responses of Bos indicus feedlot cattle offered a high-concentrate diet.

Two experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of different probiotic combinations on rumen fermentation characteristics, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot Bos indicus beef bulls offered a high-concentrate diet. The two probiotics consisted of a mixture containing three strains of Enterococcus faecium and one strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae or a mixture of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis. Supplementation of probiotics, regardless of type, reduced acetate:propionate ratio, and mean rumen ammonia-N concentration and tended to improve the performance of feedlot cattle offered a high-concentrate diet, demonstrating the potential of this technology to be used as a feed additive for beef cattle.