A feeding trial with growing cattle was carried out to test the hypothesis that a
supplement of yeast-fermented rice – as a proven source of Beta-glucan – would
stimulate the rumen microbiota to increase the production of propionic acid as an
alternative to methane as an electron sink for hydrogen.
Five Ongle cattle were fed ad libitum elephant grass and restricted protein supplement
in a 5*5 Latin square design in which the treatments were 5 levels of yeast fermented
rice (YFR) of 0, 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 6%. The experimental periods were of 14 days with
measurements over the last seven days of each period.
The YFR increased the proportion of propionic acid in the rumen VFA, decreased
emissions of methane and improved growth and feed conversion
All the reported responses to YFR supplementation showed curvilinear trends with
optimum values recorded when the YFR was between 3 and 4% of the diet dry matter.

Key words: climate change, greenhouses, rumen, Saccharomyces cerevisiae