PROBIOTIC
Dairy
Actisaf® live yeast is proven to optimise performance in dairy cows by supporting the growth of beneficial rumen microbes that enhance digestion of feed and stabilise rumen pH. Through this dual mode of action, Actisaf® improves feed efficiency and drives milk and milk solids production, while also supporting cows through diet and housing changes. In young calves, it also promotes early rumen development, stabilises rumen pH and enhances fibre digestion which are critically important for future performance
Actisaf® has a significant impact on feed efficiency and fibre digestibility in dairy cows, even as forage varies or grass quality declines.
By stabilising the rumen environment, Actisaf® supports key fibre-digesting microbes, such as Fibrobacter succinogenes, which enhances the cow’s ability to extract energy from forage. This microbial support leads to improved neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility by over 6% and a 5% increase in overall feed efficiency, as shown in a University of Nottingham study.
Research shows that supplementation with Actisaf® increases the population of rumen microbes identified in efficient animals, such as Megasphaera elsdenii, which converts lactic acid into propionate, and Fibrobacter succinogens, a key microbe involved in fibre digestion.
These improvements translate directly into better milk yields without increasing dry matter intake (DMI) with cows producing more milk from the same amount of feed, helping reduce the cost of production per litre and supporting sustainability. Importantly, these gains do not come at the expense of cows' body condition score, fertility or health parameters, confirming that performance improvements are due to better feed efficiency.
Giving calves the best start...
Actisaf® Sc 47 plays a vital role in supporting healthy rumen development and growth in calves during the pre-weaning stage, arguably the most critical period for setting up future performance.
By creating a rumen environment that favours beneficial cellulolytic and lactic acid utilising bacteria, Actisaf® enhances fibre digestion and stabilises rumen pH, which is particularly important in young calves whose rumens and microbiomes are still developing. This improved digestion supports higher feed intakes and better nutrient absorption, which directly translates to increased average daily gains.
Farmers who supplement calves with Actisaf® (often alongside Safmannan®) report faster growth and healthier calves that reach target weights more quickly. Read these stories on our case studies page...
Helping dairy reach Net Zero
Actisaf® Sc 47 is the first live yeast probiotic with a life cycle assessment (LCA) that is independently reviewed and verified following ISO standards 14040/44.
This LCA concluded that Actisaf® Sc 47 supplementation can decrease carbon footprint of milk by up to 5% (CO2e per kg of FPCM), subject to the period of supplementation. Improvements in feed efficiency, performance and carbon footprint make Actisaf® a promising solution for dairy farmers dedicated to sustainable practices.
Read our white paper, "Mighty Microbes: How the rumen microbiome can help dairy reach Net Zero"