Yeasts are unicellular eukaryotic organisms belonging to the fungi group

These microorganisms have as main characteristic their rapid multiplication and the ability to develop on cheap substrates and in the presence of sugars, mainly.

What is the importance of using yeast and derivatives in pig production? Come find out what these microorganisms are, understand what they are for and enjoy their pig farming benefits!

What are yeasts?

Yeasts are unicellular eukaryotic organisms belonging to the fungi group. They can be found in the soil, in the air, in some plants, fruits and foods. These microorganisms have as main characteristic their rapid multiplication and the ability to develop on cheap substrates and in the presence of sugars, mainly.

Therefore, they are widely used in the production of ethanol, alcoholic beverages and in the food industry, especially in the bakery industry. There are approximately 850 different species of yeast, the most common being the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is widely used in the bakery, brewery or in the sugarcane industry.

With the improvement and growth of the sugar and alcohol sector in Brazil in recent years, we started to have a fast and high availability of this co-product in the industrial process, and began to look for alternatives for its destination, as we needed to give this surplus a destination. economically viable, sustainable and environmentally sound.

How are yeasts used in animal production?

Thus, it was found that these microorganisms have nutritional potential and some very interesting nutraceutical properties for their use in animal feed. The use of this yeast can be done in two ways: fully, in its active form, where we have live yeast, or inactive; and in your form manufactured, where we use yeast after processing its cell or we use only some of its components, when we have yeast derivatives.

In the portfolio of yeasts and derivatives, Yes has live yeasts, inactive yeasts and derivatives, which are made up of the yeast cell wall, the hydrolyzed yeast and the autolyzed yeast. In the last two, there is a difference in the industrial and manufacturing process:

– Hydrolyzed yeast: blend of exogenous enzymes to break the cell wall and use the benefits of all its constituents.

– Autolyzed yeast: we stimulate the breakdown by the yeast cell's internal enzymes.

The most important thing, however, is to know its constituents and their respective actions to take advantage of them in animal production and take advantage of their benefits.

Inactive yeast basically consists of intact cells from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where, after the drying and inactivation process, it constitutes an ingredient with a balanced profile of amino acids, being rich in vitamins of the B complex, in inositol and highly palatable. Therefore, it is used as a protein source of high biological value and as an excellent palatability. This additive can be used in all production phases and, mainly, in the growing and finishing phases of the swine production system.

Live yeast, on the other hand, consists of using a selected and specific strain, without going through the inactivation process. Therefore, the microorganism is still alive and has a probiotic action, being more commonly used in the reproductive phases and in nursery diets of technified pigs. Its main benefits are: to favor the development of beneficial microbiota, contribute to the balance of the intestinal microbiota, significantly improve the digestion process and, consequently, the absorption of nutrients, and improve the animal's productive and reproductive performance.

In derivatives, Yes has the hydrolyzed yeast, which is produced by breaking the cell wall of the saccharomyces with the use of exogenous enzymes. This additive consists of a rich source of nucleotides, nucleosides, glutamic acid, B vitamins, in addition to being a protein source of high biological value. Hydrolyzed yeast is a very interesting nutraceutical to be used in daycare diets, as piglets have an immature gastrointestinal tract and a high growth rate, in addition to the lactation diet. Its main benefits are: maintenance of intestinal integrity, balance of the microbiota and the microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract, being a direct energy source for high tissue turnover cell and promote immunomodulation.

And finally, we have the yeast cell wall, which is obtained after processing the Saccharomyces cerevisiae and further separation of intracellular contents from the cell wall, usually by a centrifugation process. Thus, we only utilize the benefits of the yeast wall constituents. This additive is a prebiotic rich in mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), which has the ability to agglutinate gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, that is: type I fimbriae bacteria, such as the main strains of Salmonella and E.coli. In addition, it is rich in β-glucans, which have an interesting ability to modulate the immune system and to adsorb mycotoxins, especially the zearalenone. Its main benefits for pig farming are: agglutination of pathogenic bacteria, such as the main strains of Salmonella and E.coli, modulation of the intestinal microbiota by competitive exclusion, modulation of the immune system and adsorption of mycotoxins.

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Founded in 2008, the YesSinergy® it combines animal welfare, food safety and sustainability to produce natural additives that replace antibiotics for animal health and nutrition. Since 2016, YES has been part of Aqua Capital, an investment fund aimed at companies in the agribusiness sector in Brazil and South America.