New research shows how VistaPre-T can improve digestibility for improved beef feed efficiency

New research from Texas Tech University demonstrates the potential for VistaPre-T to improve digestibility of beef diets for improved feed efficiency.

The research, Kondratovich et al. (2017), set out to evaluate the effects of VistaPre-T (Trichoderma extract) on in vitro true digestibility of twelve byproducts commonly fed to beef cattle. J. Animal Science 95 (Suppl.4):270.

Background

Fibre is an important component of ruminant diets, but a large proportion is under-utilized by the animal leading to a reduction in feed efficiency. However, the use of VistaPre-T has been reported to increase fibre digestibility by roughening up the surface of the fiber and encouraging faster colonization of rumen microbes to digest fibre more effectively.

This leads to increased feed efficiency, intake, growth rate, and performance.

Trial Design

In vitro true digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fibre digestibility (NDF), and acid detergent fibre (ADF) with and without inclusion of VistaPre-T was evaluated in 12 byproducts commonly used in beef rations:

Corn cobs, grape pomace, intact sorghum grain, soybean hulls, wheat straw, high-quality alfalfa hay, cotton burrs, low-quality alfalfa hay, corn stalks, sorghum stalks, cotton seed hulls, sorghum dry distillers’ grains with solubles.

Two treatments were applied:

• Control: No VistaPre-T
• Treatment 1: 0.75 μl of VistaPre-T per g substrate DM

Results

Conclusion

Kondratovich et al., (2017) concluded that the inclusion of VistaPre-T improved fibre digestion of commonly fed roughage sources in cattle diets.

Furthermore, VistaPre-T may have additional benefit when used in sorghum grain-based diets.