What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the effects of a direct-fed microbial mixture containing Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, methane emissions, and gastrointestinal microbiomes and metabolomes in beef heifers.

September 28, 2026Journal of Animal Science

Supplementation of a Bacillus -based DFM mixture on growth performance, methane emissions, microbiome, and metabolome in backgrounding beef heifers

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Authors

AMAraceli MaderalUniversity of Florida IFIgnacio Fernández-MarenchinoAve Maria University FTFederico TarnonskyAve Maria University

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Implication

Randomized trial reveals minimal effects of Bacillus direct-fed microbials on growth, methane emissions, and microbiome in beef heifers, suggesting limited systemic efficacy.

Key Points

To evaluate the effects of a direct-fed microbial mixture containing Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, methane emissions, and gastrointestinal microbiomes and metabolomes in beef heifers.
Angus crossbred heifers (n = 108; 318 ± 40 kg body weight) were evaluated in a generalized randomized block design while fed a sorghum silage-based diet.
Treatments consisted of a control diet with no additive or a Bacillus-based direct-fed microbial mixture at 310 mg/kg diet dry matter (providing an average of 3 g/animal/d).
Supplementation produced no significant effect on dry matter intake, average daily gain, gain-to-feed ratio, apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, or enteric methane emissions (P > 0.05).
Alpha and beta diversity of ruminal fluid and fecal microbiomes did not differ between the treatment and control groups (P > 0.05).
Metabolomic profiling revealed minimal shifts, though ruminal ubiquinone biosynthesis was enriched (P ≤ 0.05) and plasma proline increased while serine decreased in supplemented heifers (P ≤ 0.05).

Cite This Study

Maderal et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ab9b6017822ec8fc3d915a6 https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skag304

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Implication

Randomized trial reveals minimal effects of Bacillus direct-fed microbials on growth, methane emissions, and microbiome in beef heifers, suggesting limited systemic efficacy.

Supplementation of a Bacillus -based DFM mixture on growth performance, methane emissions, microbiome, and metabolome in backgrounding beef heifers

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Supplementation of a Bacillus -based DFM mixture on growth performance, methane emissions, microbiome, and metabolome in backgrounding beef heifers

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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