As feed costs are a major contributor to the profitability of any dairy or beef farm, feed efficiency is one of the key aspects of the ruminant business.
Feed efficiency is the measure of how effectively feed is transformed into milk or meat. Depending on the region, feed costs make up 60–80% of the total cost of production. Next to profitability, the environmental impact is also important.
Increasing efficiency eventually means fewer losses and more effective use of feed for production. In doing so, the environmental impact of the ruminant production system is reduced. For that reason, the Mervit® Digest range consists of a series of products to support the ruminant digestive system, increase the utilization of energy and protein, maximize feed efficiency, improve production, and minimize the environmental impact of the ruminant production system.
1. Mervit® N Digest
Protein is a major feed cost, and local protein sources are increasingly used in cattle diets due to environmental concerns.
However, these proteins are often highly fermentable, leading to excess rumen fermentable protein and lower feed efficiency. Essential oils help modulate rumen fermentation, reducing ammonia production. Condensed tannins increase rumen by-pass protein, while spice extracts improve intestinal digestion and saliva flow. A balanced mix of these ingredients also promotes efficient urea recycling, supporting better protein utilization in cattle diets.
2. Mervit® E Digest
Energy drives milk production in ruminants, with NDF in the diet as the primary energy source.
However, meeting higher energy demands can be challenging. Mervit® E Digest, a blend of essential oils, saponins, and spice extracts, supports rumen fermentation by enhancing NDF breakdown and increasing volatile fatty acid production. It emphasizes propionic acid, a key energy contributor to milk production. Additionally, Mervit® E Digest improves protein availability and starch digestion through its impact on rumen fermentation, supporting overall energy efficiency for high-producing animals.
3. Mervit® S Digest
Mervit® S Digest is a natural blend of digestive enzymes that enhances starch digestion in both the rumen and intestinal tract, increasing starch use and reducing fecal starch loss.
In the rumen, starch is fermented into propionic acid, while a portion bypasses to be digested in the intestines, contributing to the glucose pool for milk production. Undigested starch is less beneficial when fermented in the hindgut. Starch in manure, typically 5–8%, represents lost energy that should be utilized for better animal nutrition.
