Supplemental dietary yeast products are beneficial during times of stress. Calves experience increased levels of stress during birth, weaning, and the post-weaning receiving period. Therefore, 3 experiments were conducted to determine how yeast supplementation affects growth performance and health during this time. In experiment 1, 2 truckloads of highly stressed calves (n = 175; initial body weight [BW] = 226 ± 24.5 kg) were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments; unsupplemented control, or supplementation with 2 commercial yeast products (Y1 and Y2). Average daily gain (ADG) was not different (P = 0.99) during the 28 d receiving period; nor was there any difference (P = 0.29) in the percentage of calves treated for bovine respiratory disease. In experiment 2, heifer calves (n = 95; initial BW = 165 ± 27 kg) were randomly assigned to pastures and pastures were randomly assigned to treatment: 1) no yeast (CON), or 2) addition of yeast product (YP). Heifers were supplied treatments for 35 d prior to weaning and through a 42-d backgrounding period. Average daily gain prior to weaning was not different (P ≥ 0.45) between treatments. However, CON had increased (P = 0.01) ADG compared to YP from weaning to the end of the backgrounding period. Microbiome analysis found that supplemental yeast did not dramatically change α or β diversity nor was there a difference in community structure for rumen bacteria; fecal α or β diversity were different on d 34. In experiment 3, late gestation cows (n = 97) were supplemented YP approximately 45 d prior to parturition. At parturition colostrum and blood samples (n = 30) were collected to determine the effect on passive transfer. Supplementation ended 22 d after the last calf was born (d 85). Body weight on d 85 was greater (P = 0.01) for YP calves compared with CON. Cows that were supplemented YP had a lower (P = 0.03) neutrophil:lymphocyte at hour 0 and 48 after parturition. Similarly, calves on YP treatment had a lower (P = 0.02) neutrophil:lymphocyte at hour 48. Overall, effects of yeast supplementation have been variable between the 3 experiments.
","abstract_html":"<p>Supplemental dietary yeast products are beneficial during times of stress. Calves experience increased levels of stress during birth, weaning, and the post-weaning receiving period. Therefore, 3 experiments were conducted to determine how yeast supplementation affects growth performance and health during this time. In experiment 1, 2 truckloads of highly stressed calves (n = 175; initial body weight [BW] = 226 ± 24.5 kg) were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments; unsupplemented control, or supplementation with 2 commercial yeast products (Y1 and Y2). Average daily gain (ADG) was not different (P = 0.99) during the 28 d receiving period; nor was there any difference (P = 0.29) in the percentage of calves treated for bovine respiratory disease. In experiment 2, heifer calves (n = 95; initial BW = 165 ± 27 kg) were randomly assigned to pastures and pastures were randomly assigned to treatment: 1) no yeast (CON), or 2) addition of yeast product (YP). Heifers were supplied treatments for 35 d prior to weaning and through a 42-d backgrounding period. Average daily gain prior to weaning was not different (P ≥ 0.45) between treatments. However, CON had increased (P = 0.01) ADG compared to YP from weaning to the end of the backgrounding period. Microbiome analysis found that supplemental yeast did not dramatically change α or β diversity nor was there a difference in community structure for rumen bacteria; fecal α or β diversity were different on d 34. In experiment 3, late gestation cows (n = 97) were supplemented YP approximately 45 d prior to parturition. At parturition colostrum and blood samples (n = 30) were collected to determine the effect on passive transfer. Supplementation ended 22 d after the last calf was born (d 85). Body weight on d 85 was greater (P = 0.01) for YP calves compared with CON. Cows that were supplemented YP had a lower (P = 0.03) neutrophil:lymphocyte at hour 0 and 48 after parturition. Similarly, calves on YP treatment had a lower (P = 0.02) neutrophil:lymphocyte at hour 48. Overall, effects of yeast supplementation have been variable between the 3 experiments. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Palmer, Elizabeth"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Animal Science (MS)","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Beck, Paul A.","Powell, Jeremy G."],"advisors":["Kegley, Elizabeth B."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2018,"date_issued":"2018-08-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2018-08-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T00:59:24Z","subjects":["Beef Cattle","Health","Yeast","Beef Science"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2918","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Beck, Paul A.","Powell, Jeremy G."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Kegley, Elizabeth B."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Palmer, Elizabeth"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2018"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-02-06T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Animal Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Beef Cattle","Health","Yeast","Beef Science"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2918"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Supplemental dietary yeast products are beneficial during times of stress. Calves experience increased levels of stress during birth, weaning, and the post-weaning receiving period. Therefore, 3 experiments were conducted to determine how yeast supplementation affects growth performance and health during this time. In experiment 1, 2 truckloads of highly stressed calves (n = 175; initial body weight [BW] = 226 ± 24.5 kg) were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments; unsupplemented control, or supplementation with 2 commercial yeast products (Y1 and Y2). Average daily gain (ADG) was not different (P = 0.99) during the 28 d receiving period; nor was there any difference (P = 0.29) in the percentage of calves treated for bovine respiratory disease. In experiment 2, heifer calves (n = 95; initial BW = 165 ± 27 kg) were randomly assigned to pastures and pastures were randomly assigned to treatment: 1) no yeast (CON), or 2) addition of yeast product (YP). Heifers were supplied treatments for 35 d prior to weaning and through a 42-d backgrounding period. Average daily gain prior to weaning was not different (P ≥ 0.45) between treatments. However, CON had increased (P = 0.01) ADG compared to YP from weaning to the end of the backgrounding period. Microbiome analysis found that supplemental yeast did not dramatically change α or β diversity nor was there a difference in community structure for rumen bacteria; fecal α or β diversity were different on d 34. In experiment 3, late gestation cows (n = 97) were supplemented YP approximately 45 d prior to parturition. At parturition colostrum and blood samples (n = 30) were collected to determine the effect on passive transfer. Supplementation ended 22 d after the last calf was born (d 85). Body weight on d 85 was greater (P = 0.01) for YP calves compared with CON. Cows that were supplemented YP had a lower (P = 0.03) neutrophil:lymphocyte at hour 0 and 48 after parturition. Similarly, calves on YP treatment had a lower (P = 0.02) neutrophil:lymphocyte at hour 48. Overall, effects of yeast supplementation have been variable between the 3 experiments.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Effect of Yeast Supplementation During Various Stages of Beef Production"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Beck, Paul A.","Powell, Jeremy G."],"dc:contributor.advisor":["Kegley, Elizabeth B."],"dc:creator":["Palmer, Elizabeth"],"dc:date":["2018"],"dc:date.available":["2024-02-06T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Supplemental dietary yeast products are beneficial during times of stress. Calves experience increased levels of stress during birth, weaning, and the post-weaning receiving period. Therefore, 3 experiments were conducted to determine how yeast supplementation affects growth performance and health during this time. In experiment 1, 2 truckloads of highly stressed calves (n = 175; initial body weight [BW] = 226 ± 24.5 kg) were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments; unsupplemented control, or supplementation with 2 commercial yeast products (Y1 and Y2). Average daily gain (ADG) was not different (P = 0.99) during the 28 d receiving period; nor was there any difference (P = 0.29) in the percentage of calves treated for bovine respiratory disease. In experiment 2, heifer calves (n = 95; initial BW = 165 ± 27 kg) were randomly assigned to pastures and pastures were randomly assigned to treatment: 1) no yeast (CON), or 2) addition of yeast product (YP). Heifers were supplied treatments for 35 d prior to weaning and through a 42-d backgrounding period. Average daily gain prior to weaning was not different (P ≥ 0.45) between treatments. However, CON had increased (P = 0.01) ADG compared to YP from weaning to the end of the backgrounding period. Microbiome analysis found that supplemental yeast did not dramatically change α or β diversity nor was there a difference in community structure for rumen bacteria; fecal α or β diversity were different on d 34. In experiment 3, late gestation cows (n = 97) were supplemented YP approximately 45 d prior to parturition. At parturition colostrum and blood samples (n = 30) were collected to determine the effect on passive transfer. Supplementation ended 22 d after the last calf was born (d 85). Body weight on d 85 was greater (P = 0.01) for YP calves compared with CON. Cows that were supplemented YP had a lower (P = 0.03) neutrophil:lymphocyte at hour 0 and 48 after parturition. Similarly, calves on YP treatment had a lower (P = 0.02) neutrophil:lymphocyte at hour 48. Overall, effects of yeast supplementation have been variable between the 3 experiments.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/2918"],"dc:subject":["Beef Cattle","Health","Yeast","Beef Science"],"dc:title":["Effect of Yeast Supplementation During Various Stages of Beef Production"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Animal Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T00:59:24Z"}