Weathering the Transition: Lallemand Powermix Keeps Cattle Thriving Indoors

With the unsettled September weather bringing heavy rain and challenging grazing conditions, many farmers across Northern Ireland have housed cattle earlier than expected. As livestock move indoors, the focus turns to managing diet transitions smoothly and keeping animals healthy during the switch from fresh grass to silage-based diets.

The Lallemand Powermix range is based on Levucell live yeast, offering farmers a range of proven benefits including improved rumen function—which promotes the growth of beneficial fibre-digesting bacteria and stabilises rumen pH—leading to more efficient feed conversion and greater nutrient absorption. This results in increased growth rates, higher milk yields and enhanced milk solids production, while also reducing the risk of digestive disorders such as acidosis and enabling cattle to adapt smoothly to dietary transitions. This will ultimately support healthier, more productive livestock with cost-effective benefits and is offering farmers the tools to maintain performance and reduce health risks at this crucial time of the year.

The move onto conserved forage can increase the risk of acidosis and digestive challenges. Powermix products containing Levucell help stabilise rumen pH, supporting fibre digestion and improving feed efficiency. Farmers using Powermix report better intakes, steadier dung consistency and smoother adjustment to winter rations.

Digestaid, the product name for the Levucell farm pack within the range, specifically targets gut health. It helps by supporting fibre breakdown and nutrient absorption, ensuring cattle make best use of variable silage qualities.

Acidease is specifically beneficial to manage and prevent ruminal acidosis—a common metabolic disorder in dairy and beef herds resulting from high concentrate diets or sudden dietary transitions. By stabilising rumen pH, Acidease supports optimal fibre digestion, improves feed conversion efficiency and helps maintain consistent intakes and animal performance during periods of dietary change or when feeding rations are rich in fermentable carbohydrates. The product contributes to overall gut health, reduces the risk of digestive upsets and promotes better production outcomes for both dairy and finishing cattle in systems prone to acidosis-related challenges.

Silage made under unsettled summer weather can sometimes carry mycotoxins and other anti-nutritional factors. Toxisorb is designed to bind these toxins, reducing their impact on animal health and performance. Its inclusion offers valuable peace of mind to farmers this winter, particularly in clamps where harvesting conditions were less than ideal.

For cattle requiring additional support during diet transition, Rumignition, a product combining Acidease and Toxisorb, stimulates microbial activity in the rumen, encouraging faster adaptation to new rations and protection against toxins.

With housing coming earlier than expected and variable silage qualities across the country, the Powermix range is giving practical reassurance that cattle remain healthy, productive and efficient this winter.

Find out more about the Lallemand Powermix range by contacting your local Fane Valley representative or calling 028 9261 0485.