Megasphaera elsdenii and Saccharomyces Cerevisiae as direct fed microbials during an in vitro acute ruminal acidosis challenge

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Megasphaera elsdenii as direct fed microbials (DFM) in beef cattle finishing diets to alleviate acute ruminal lactic acidosis in vitro. A dual-flow continuous culture system was used. Treatments were a Control, no DFM; YM1, S. cerevisiae and M. elsdenii strain 1; YM2, S. cerevisiae and M. elsdenii strain 2; and YMM, S. cerevisiae and half of the doses of M. elsdenii strain 1 and strain 2. Each DFM dose had a concentration of 1 × 108 CFU/mL. Four experimental periods lasted 11 days each. For the non-acidotic days (day 1–8), diet contained 50:50 forage to concentrate ratio. For the challenge days (day 9–11), diet contained 10:90 forage to concentrate ratio. Acute ruminal acidosis was successfully established. No differences in pH, d-, l-, or total lactate were observed among treatments. Propionic acid increased in treatments containing DFM. For N metabolism, the YMM treatment decreased protein degradation and microbial protein synthesis. No treatment effects were observed on NH3–N concentration; however, efficiency of N utilization by ruminal bacteria was greater than 80% during the challenge period and NH3–N concentration was reduced to approximately 2 mg/dL as the challenge progressed.