Are Probiotics Right for Beef Cattle?

"Good bacteria" in feed or supplements can support digestion, and perhaps crowd out harmful bacteria.

- By Gene Johnston

There's a growing selection of nutritional products, called probiotics, being offered to beef cattle producers. These living bacteria supplements are mixed with feed or mineral and claim to enhance animals' digestive functions, feed efficiency, and overall health.

“Probiotics are the good bacteria in the gut that support digestion, nutrient absorption, and normal immune functions,” said Steve Lerner, technical specialist with Novonesis, which released the probiotic Bovacillus earlier this year. Lerner described it as a combination of two special strains of bacteria that “improve productivity in any age or class of cattle.”