In America’s cattle regions, a revolutionary change is happening that might transform the feedlot industry. It’s centered around a special kind of probiotic, a tiny hero in the world of biology.

Like the fall leaves, your pastures are undergoing similar changes in plant maturity as the plant prepares itself for the harsh, cold winter months.

“Normal” may not seem very exciting, but when it comes to managing dairy cattle, it can be a very good thing. Effective bacillus-based probiotics can help us do just that.

There are several on-farm circumstances that can impact gut health, including heat stress, acidosis, weaning, poor bunk management, psychological stress and calving. Supporting gut health around calving is critical to optimize performance and preserve health.

This is quickly shaping up to be a year that all cattle producers, both big and small, won’t forget any time soon. As sale barns across the country begin to crush previous record highs in calf prices, the decision to keep or sell the 2023 calf crop will be weighing heavy on every producer’s mind.

Success in the beef industry is never a “one-size-fits-all” endeavor. Producers manage diverse genetics in different environments with the goal of their cattle returning profit.

Ultimately, return on investment determines the value of any probiotic during a particular segment of an animal’s life or through life cycle feeding. What did we gain by spending the money to feed the effective probiotic or what did we "not lose" by feeding it?

Yeast has been part of the human diet for thousands of years, from leavening bread to fermenting wine and beyond. More recently, its beneficial properties have been used in human medicine and health supplements.

Our study demonstrates that incorporating probiotics as a preventive measure is an innovative approach to proactively prevent and fight diseases, surpassing the need for antibiotics once symptoms arise.