The effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae1026 used alone or with vitamin-mineral premix on milk yield and milk composition in dairy cows

The effect of a yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae1026) added to the diet with or without supplementation with vitamin premix and mineral bioplexes on milk production responses of 30 early-lactation Black and White Lowland cows was determined in a 17-week experiment. The daily ration (DM) consisted of 55% forages and 45% concentrates. Milk yield and milk composition were only slightly influenced by the yeast culture given without premix, but combined supplementation with yeast culture and premix exerted a significant effect on milk production and composition. Cows supplied with the yeast culture produced 38 kg more milk than the controls by day 120 of lactation, whereas from cows fed yeast culture and premix an additional 150 kg of milk was obtained. In cows treated with the yeast culture alone, the total yield of milk protein, casein and lactose rose by 4.4 kg, 3.0 kg and 6.0 kg, respectively, and that increase was not significant. At the same time, the total yield of milk components increased significantly in cows fed a combination of yeast culture, vitamin premix and mineral bioplexes. The total yield of milk protein, casein and milk fat increased by 9.2 kg, 6.0 kg and 8.2 kg, respectively. The results suggest that mineral bioplexes stimulate the action of yeast culture in the rumen and the availability of nutrients in the mammary gland.