FEED INTAKE AND GROWTH OF CATTLE FED

LIQUID BREWER'S YEAST

D. G. GRIEVE
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2Wl .

Received I4 July 1978, accepted 2 Oct.. 1978.

GruEvB, D. G. 19'19. Feed intake and srowth of cattle fed liquid brewer's
Can. J. Anim. Sci. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by 112.215.174.133 on 09/22/16

yeast. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 59: 89-94.

Liquid brewer's yeast containing l0-147a dry matter and 40-50Vo crude protein (DM
basis) was fed as the protein supplement to six pens of four Holstein-Friesian heifer
calves by three methods in a double latin square design. Treatments were additions of
liquid brewer's yeast to a corn silage-based ration: A, separate free choice feeding; B,
top-dressed on basal ration; or C, mixed with basal ration. Periods were 21 days in
duration. Dry matter intake was satisfactory on all treatments but was greater when
yeast was fed free choice (A) or mixed (C) than top-dressed (B). Free choice yeast
feeding resulted in high intakes of the product and compensatory reduction of basal
ration intake. Dry matter and protein content of yeast varied somewhat between
shipments from the brewery. In a second trial, four pens of four Hereford steer calves
each were fed corn silage and high moisture corn alone or supplemented with liquid
brewer's yeast or soybean meal for a 98-day period. Supplemented diets were
consumed in higher amounts and resulted in more rapid gains than in controls. There
was no difference between yeast- and soybean-supplemented rations.
For personal use only.

De la levure de brasserie liquide, dosant de l0 d, 14Va de matidre sdche (MS) et de 40 ir

507o de prot6ines brutes (en Vo de la MS), a 6t6 servie comme compl6ment prot6ique h
six parquets de quatre g6nisses Holstein-Friesian. L'exp6rience, dispos6e en carre
i
latin double, comportait trois modes d'adjonction de la levure une ration d base
d'ensilage de mais: (a) en distribution libre, s6par6e, (b) vers6e sur la ration de base et
(c) m6lang6e h la ration de base. Chaque traitement d'alimentation a dur6 2l jours.
L'ingestion de MS a 6t6 satisfaisante dans tous les traitements, quoiqu'elle ait 6t6 plus
forte quand la levure 6tait servie a part en libre service ou m0l6e d la ration que
simplement vers6e par-dessus. La distribution libre de la levure a donn6 lieu h une plus
abondante ingestion du compl6ment mais, en revanche, i une r6duction de la
consommation de la ration de base. Les teneurs en MS et en prot6ines de la levure
variaient quelque peu selon les envois de la brasserie. Dans un second essai, quatre
parquets de quatre veaux miles castr6s ont regu pendant 98 jours de l'ensilage de mais
et du mais grain humide, sans compl6ment ou avec compl6ment de levure liquide ou
de tourteau de soja. Les veaux ont consomm6 davantage des r6gimes compl6ment6s et
ont grossi plus vite que les t6moins, mais il n'y a pas eu de diff6rence significative
enhe les deux types de compl6ment utilis6s.

Surplus yeast produced during brewing for digestible (cattle) protein (dry matter basis)
beer has traditionally been artificially dried according to the National Academy of
and utilized in the feed manufacturing Sciences (1969). As produced in the
industry or disposed of as a waste. Increased brewery, the surplus yeast is a liquid
energy costs of drying and environmental containing lo-l4%o dry matter. Few studies
concerns have led to a search for alternate have been conducted on feeding liquid
uses of this product. Brewer's dried yeast brewer's yeast to ruminants and most have
contains about 47 .9Vo crude and 44.lvo been concerned with feeding small quan-
Csn. J. Anim. Sci.59:89-9 (Mar. 1979) tities, generally in the dried form. However,
89
 90 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

Linton (19'77) found that yeast slurry was at
least equal to a 32Vo crude
supplement for feeder cattle and that when
added to a low protein corn silage-based
ration, gains and feed efficiency were
improved significantly. It is estimated that
about 27,500 tonnes of liquid brewer's yeast
are produced annually in Canada and are
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1963). A commercial mineral vitamin premix
protein (AA Co-op Cattle Mineral, United Cooperatives
of Ontario, Mississauga. Guaranteed analysis:
calcitm, 147o phosphorts, 4Va
17.5Va salt, l47o
magnesium, 0.27a zinc, O.25Vo iron, O.O3Vo
iodine, 0.027o copper, 0.187o manganese,
0.00047o cobalt, 88,100 IU vitamin A/kg,
29,700 IU vitamin D/kg) and water were
provided free choice. Animals were weighed on 2

potentially available as a livestock feed.
Consequently, studies were initiated firstly
to determine acceptability of liquid brewer's
yeast (LBY) fed by different methods to
cattle and secondly to evaluate the product as
a protein supplement for growing cattle.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Trial 1
Twenty-four Holstein-Friesian heifer
calves
averaging 9.5 mo of age were blocked into light
and heavy groups (averaging 230 kg and 277 kg,
respectively) and randomly assigned to a pen of
four animals within blocks. Experimental design
was a double 3 x 3 latin square with the two
For personal use only.
consecutive days at the beginning and end of
experiment and once between each period. The
experiment was preceded and followed by a
2l-day control ration period with soybean meal as
the supplemental protein source.
Raw yeast slurry was obtained from a local
brewer (Molson's Brewery (Ontario) Limited,
Barrie Plant) at 2- to 3-wk intervals, stored in a
used bulk milk tank equipped with agitator and
just prior to feeding.
removed as required
Samples of LBY were taken thrice weekly for
analysis of dry matter, crude protein, ammonia
nitrogen (AOAC 1975), nitrogen precipitable in a
cold 5Vc TCA solution and nitrogen soluble in 0. I
N HCl. Feed intake and body weight data for the

experimental periods were submitted to analysis

weight groups as blocks, pens within block as
rows and 2 I -day periods as columns. Treatments
consisted of feeding LBY by three different
methods: (a) free choice (separate from basal
ration); (b) top-dressed on basal ration in
sufficient quantities to balance protein require-
ments according to the National Academy of
Sciences National Research Council (NAS-
NRC 1971);- and (c) mixed in a complete ration in
the same amounts as in (b). Rations (Table l)
were fed twice daily to ad libitum intake with
refusals measured daily and diets sampled weekly
for analysis of dry matter, crude protein
(Association of Official Analytical Chemists
(AOAC 1975) and acid detergent fiber (Van Soest
of variance (Federer 1955, p. 148) with
individual treatment means compared by Tukey's
ro procedure (Steel and Torrie 1960, p. 1 10).
Trial 2
A 98-day feeding trial was conducted using 48
Hereford steer calves housed in l2 pens and fed
rations based on corn silage and high moisture
corn supplemented with LBY, soybean meal or
no supplementation (negative control) (Table 2).
Feeding was daily to ad libitum intake. Body
weights and feed refusals were measured at 14
days and at 28-day intervals thereafter. Feed
samples taken in each time interval were analyzed

Table I . Composition of diets (rial 1)

Experimental
Diets Control Basal Basal * LBY
Ingredients, Vo as fed
Whole plant corn silage 90.00 91.14 83.72
High moisture ear corn 8.7 5 8.86 8. l4
Soybean meal (.49Vo) 1.25
Liquid brewer's yeast 8.14
Chemical analysis
Dry matter (Vo) 30.85 35.48 33. 50
Crude protein (7o of DM) 1l:34 r 0.00 10.73
Acid detergent fiber (7o of DM) 29.97 24.32 24.t9
 GRIEVE-{ATTLE FED BREIVER'S YEAST 9l

Table 2. Composition of diets (trial 2)

Ration
Diets Negative control LBY Soybean meal

Ingredients, Vo DM basis
Whole plant corn silage 68.2 69.2
High moisture shelled corn 25.0 22.o 22.O
LBY 9.0
Soybean meal (49Vo\ 8.0
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hemixl .8 .8 .8
Chemical analysis
Dry matler (.Vo) 42.21 34.21 43.82
Crude protein (7o) 9.56 t3.o2 13.24
ME (calculated) Mcal/kg 2.70 2.'70 2.72

tComprising 257o dicalcium phosphate, 37.57o limestone and 37 .5Vc trace mineral salt

Table 3. Composition of liquid brewer's yeast by load (trial l)

Component Total SD

Sample n o o 3 zo
Dry matter (Va) 10.75 t3.43 13.o2 12.39 12.65 1.20
Crude protein
l.
For personal use only.

(7o as fed) 4.63 6.92 5.97 5.39 5.9'7 14

Crude protein
(7o DM) 43.16 51.41 45.88 43.48 46.99 4.20
TCA Nti 35.48 43.59 42.O2 3 8.59 40.91 5.40
Soluble N'l$ il.82 9.40 l 0.69 I 1.63 I 0.57 .25
Ammonia Nf .25 .36 .34 .33 - J-l .05

tExpressed as percent of total N.

{Precipitable in cold SVo TCA solution.
$Soluble in .l N HCI solution

for dry matter and crude protein (AOAC 1975).
Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (Steel
and Torrie 1960) using single degree offreedom
contrasts for detecting treatment differences and
appropriate reduction of error degrees of freedom
when covariates were used. A comparison of two
growth-promoting implants was superimposed on
ration treatments but since no interaction between
teatment factors was detected, effects of implant
are not discussed.
RESULTS
Trial I
Analysis of samples of LBY from individual
loads (Table 3) revealed some variation
especially for dry matter and crude protein
content. The most significant chemical value
for practical application of yeast as a liquid
protein supplement is crude protein expres-
sed on an "as fed" basis. Among loads, this
nutrient had a rather high coefficient of
variation approaching 2OVo. Of equal
importance is the variation within loads of
material over storage time. In this trial LBY
was stored in an insulated tank located in an
uninsulated building during winter months.
Thus, storage temperature was cold (near
freezing) and little change in composition
was expected. An example of changes in
storage is in Fig. I where it is evident that
crude protein content of LBY remained
relatively constant within a particular load
for up to2 I days.
Dry matter intake data collected over the
last 7 days of each period were analyzed
(Table 4). Total dry matter intake was higher
when animals were fed LBY free choice or
mixed in a complete diet than when the
 92 CAIIADLdTN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

Trial2
z Animals fed rations supplemented with
tr
56 either LBY or soybean meal to increase
crude protein content from 9.5Vo to about
uJ 13% consumed more feed dry matter, gained
o4
weight faster and had higher gains adjusted
o for dry matter intake than those on negative
a2 control rations (Table 5). However, there
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were no differences in any of these

parameters between the LBY- and soybean
meal- supplemented animals.
STORAGE TIME (DAYS)
Fig. 1.
Variation in crude protein content of
DISCUSSION
LBY (as fed) among loads and due to length of
s torage. Trial I
Results of analysis of yeast indicated
variation between loads of yeast delivered
supplement was top-dressed. However, from the brewery. For feeding as a protein
when expressed per unit body weight, these supplement, the most significant nutrient
differences were not significant (P < .05). value is crude protein expressed on a "wet"
While not analyzed statistically, experimen- basis. This ranged widely from 4.63 to
tal values were similar to those in the control 6.92Vo. Either a minimum protein guarantee
period as well as those suggested by or standardization of the product to a
For personal use only.

NAS-NRC (19'71) for animals of similar
weight and age (300 kg and 11 mo at
midpoint, respectively). Intake of LBY was
higher when fed free choice than by either of
the other methods, resulting in reduced
intake of basal ration by animals on this
treatment. Average intake of free choice
LBY amounted to 8.4 kg of liquid per head
per day (l2.7%o dry matter). No digestive
upsets or health problems were observed
when consumption of substantial amounts of
LBY occurred.
uniform protein level would be required for
accurate ration formulation. Under the
storage conditions in this trial little change
occurred in nutrient composition of LBY
over time up to 2l days. However, the
storage tank was located in an uninsulated,
unheated building and the trial was
conducted in winter when ambient tempera-
tures were near OoC. Thus, little microbial
activity would be expected and further
studies at warmer temperatures are war-
ranted.

Table 4. Average daily dry matter intake and weight gain ofheifers fed liquid brewer's yeast (trial l)

DM intake
Per 100 kg Avg daily
Treatment Yeast Total body weight gain

Experimental kg
Free choice 6.88 a l.O6 a 7.94 a 2.58 a .89 a
Top dressed '7.1'7 ab .23 b 7.40 b 2.46 a .93 a
Mixed 7.69 b .z-t D t-vza 2.63 a l.U) a
Standard error .13 .06 .ll .06 .09
Controlf 7.49 2.50 I .0E
'fNot included in statistical analysis.
a,b Means followed by the same letter are not different (P<.05).
 GRIEVE-{ATTLE FED BREWER'S
Table 5. Performance of cattle fed liquid brewer's yeast or soybean meal as a protein supplement (trial 2)
Negative
Parameter control
Initial weight L)J
Final weight 316
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Average daily gainf .85 a
Dry matter intake/day 5.71a
Adjusted daily gain$ .89 a
tStandard error of ration mean.
*Adjusted by covariance for initial weight.
$Adjusted by covariance for initial weight and dry matter intake (efficiency).
a,b Means followed by the same letter are not different (P<.05).
Total feed dry matter intake of rations
containing LBY was similar to or higher than
the 7.5 kg dry feed suggested by NAS-NRC
for 53-wk-old dairy heifers weighing 300 kg
and also to those of Grieve et al. (1976) for
12- to lS-mo-old heifers fed comparable
For personal use only.
diets. Differences in intake due to method of
feeding are difficult to explain but indicate
that blending LBY with other feeds is
preferable to top-dressing. Feeding LBY
free choice resulted in luxury consumption
(over four times controlled amounts) and
corresponding reduction of basal feed
intake. These results indicate that LBY is a
highly palatable feed ingredient for growing
dairy heifers but for maximum intake
without luxury consumption, blending with
other ration ingredients is desirable. Appar-
ently, feeding raw yeast had no significant
impact on the digestive processes since no
digestive upsets were observed even when
large amounts of LBY were consumed on a
free choice basis. Average daily gains
although based on short term results were
excellent for animals of this age (NAS-NRC
1971; Grieve et al. 1916).
Trial2
The response in daily gain, feed intake and
gain adjusted for intake to supplemental
protein sources was anticipated since others
(Mowatt et al. 1971) have shown diets
containing 9.6Vo crude protein to be
YEAST 93
Soybean
LBY meal
kg
23s
368 37'7
1.35b t.34 b .UJ
6.51 b 6.96 b .16
1.33 b 1.32 b .04
deficient for animals up to at least 389 kg
liveweight. NAS-NRC (1976) suggests
levels of 10.4-l2.1Vo crude protein for
finishing steer calves of this weight range
gaining over I kg per day. LBY was equal to
soybean meal in supporting growth, feed
intake and efficiency when rations were
supplemented to 13Eo crude protein. This
supports the findings of Linton (19'77) that
LBY is a satisfactory source of supplemental
protein in corn silage-based rations for
a feeder steers.
On the basis of the results presented here,
liquid brewer's yeast when fed to growing
cattle in amounts necessary to balance
protein of corn silage rations resulted in
highly palatable feeds and performance
equal to that of soybean meal-supplemented
animals. Problems requiring further investi-
gation are the variation in protein content of
yeast as obtained from breweries and storage
characteristics of the product during warm
weather.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author acknowledges the use of facilities and
staff supported by the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food and financial assistance of
the National Research Council of Canada (PRAI)
and Molson's Brewery (Ontario) Limited,
Toronto. Arrangements for delivery of yeast by
Agripro Feeds Ltd., Nobleton is also gratefully
acknowledsed.
 94 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
ASSOCIATION OF OFFICIAL ANALYTICAL
CHEMISTS. 1975. Official methods of analysis,
12th ed. AOAC, Washington, D.C.
FEDERER, WALTER T. 1955. Experimental
design theory and application. The Macmillan
Company, New York, N.Y.
GRIEVE, D. G., STONE, J. B., MACLEOD, G.
K. and CURTIS, R. A. 1976. All silage forage
programs for dairy cattle. l. Heifer performance
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from birth to eighteen months of age. J. Dairy
Sci.59: 912-918.
LINTON, J. H. 1977. Nutritional evaluation of
brewery by-products. Review of nutrition papers
from Brewers Feed Conference. Feedstuffs 51: 8 .
MOWATT, D. N., SMITH, O. B., McKNIGHT,
D. R., MACLEOD, c. K. and SNODDEN, P.
M. 1977. Supplemental protein needs of
finishing steers fed corn silage. Can. J. Anim.
Sci. 57: 465-4'13.
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 1969.
For personal use only.
United States-Canadian tables of feed composi-
tion. 2nd rev. NAS Publ. 1684. NAS,
Washington, D.C.
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES-
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL. 1971.
Nutrient requirements of domestic animals. No.
3. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. 4th rev.
ed. NAS-NRC, Washington, D.C.
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES-
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL. 19'76.
Nutrient requirements of domestic animals. No.
4. Nutrient requirements of beef cattle, 5th rev.
ed. NAS-NRC, Washington, D.C.
STEEL, ROBERT G. D. and TORRIE, JAMES
H. 1960. Principles and procedures of statistics.
McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc.. New York. N.Y.
VAN SOEST, P. J. 1963. The use of detergents
in the analysis of fibrous feeds. IL A rapid
method for the determination of fiber and lignin.
J. Assoc. Off. Agric. Chem. 46: 829-835.