The two-year project started in 2025 with CBS Bio Platforms in Calgary, AB to evaluate Optimax-E on backgrounding beef cattle. Optimax-E is an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme (EFE) product, containing a wide range of enzymes for carbohydrate degradation. It aims to improve fibre digestion and growth performance in ruminants, especially in those fed on high forage diets.
TACLP has completed the first of the two-year study with backgrounding beef cattle by enrolling 106 steers grouped randomly to two dietary treatments for 120 days. Both groups were fed a barley silage based basal diet, with the treatment group also receiving 15 g/day of Optimax-E per head per day. Their weight was taken every three weeks to measure average daily gain and daily feed intake was monitored with Vytelle feed bunks. Results showed similar growth performance (high for both groups) but fewer animals required health treatments in the supplemented cattle.
To evaluate the effect of a exogenous fibrolytic enzyme (EFE) supplement, Optimax-E, on backgrounding beef cattle fed a typical Western Canadian diet.