The product's manufacturer, Lallemand Animal Nutrition of Milwaukee, may now sell the product to beef cattle producers for use in their feeding programs. The company has also been allowed the claim that Levucell "increases average daily gain when fed as directed" to beef cattle.

CFIA approved Levucell for use in dairy cow rations in 2002, the company noted. The company also already has authorization to sell the additive for both beef and dairy rations in the European Union.

Beef trials showed an eight per cent increase in average daily weight gain, the company said. It also noted in a release Monday that when beef cattle were submitted to the "high stress" of "intensive farming conditions," disease indicators dropped from 17 per cent to three per cent.

"Improvement in meat quality was also noticed with a 50 per cent increase in highest carcass grade," Lallemand said, adding that its studies covered a "large range" of environments, diets, breeds and farming conditions. 

Source: Alberta Express