An all-natural cattle feed supplement trial in New South Wales has produced promising results
Charles Sturt University’s feedlot has hosted a trial of a new cattle feed supplement, with the results potentially being significant for cattle farming’s future.
The trial was conducted in Wagga Wagga by the university’s agriculture research institute alongside Australian Livestock Production Services.
It involved more than 260 Angus cattle from six breeders across southern NSW, which were fed for 106 days and supplemented with the Terragen Dry Ruminant Probiotic feed supplement at different dosage rates.
“Angus cattle supplied a ration supplemented with the ruminant probiotic gained 4.6 per cent more weight per day compared to a control group that were not,” Charles Sturt veterinary physiology professor Jane Quinn says.
“Also of note from the trial was that this group of cattle had a marble score seven per cent higher than the control.”
The Terragen probiotic supplement was tested against groups of liquid MYLO, Dry Ruminant Probiotic one dose, Dry Ruminant Probiotic two dose and a control group fed no supplement, researchers say.
As consumers seek alternatives to synthetic growth stimulants, Quinn says the results of this trial will prove valuable.
“By doing this, we were able to measure if the supplement improved production and carcass characteristics,” she says.
“The Terragen probiotic is all natural and developed in Australia, so it provides a commercially viable alternative to beef producers both nationally and internationally.
“Probiotics present the opportunity for enhancing growth and performance in feedlot steers without recourse to other chemical additives.
“Our trial produced viable results in terms of return on investment of the supplement too.”