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Feed Efficiency Gains in French Swine Production Using LEVUCELL SB
After nearly a decade of scientific validation and commercial collaborative implementation, Lallemand Animal Nutrition’s Swine portfolio has reached a significant milestone with one of France’s leading feed manufacturers. This case study highlights how LEVUCELL SB (Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii CNCM I-1079), a live yeast developed by Lallemand Animal Nutrition, has demonstrated remarkable results in enhancing feed efficiency for a leading French animal feed producer.
Building on a Foundation of Trust
For nearly a decade, a leading French feed producer has included LEVUCELL SB in their sow and prestarter feeds at the recommended technical dosages, building a foundation of consistent performance and trust. The game-changer came in 2021, when Lallemand Animal Nutrition presented compelling research on extending these benefits to fattening pig feed.
Research conducted at the same metabolic chambers used by Dr. Jean Noblet, formerly research director of the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), to validate the Net Energy System generated considerable interest. Scientists observed a significant improvement in the Coefficient of Energy Retention, indicating potential for improved nutritional balance and reduced production costs. Based on these findings, the probiotic was given an energy value equal to 1.6% of the feed’s Net Energy content.
Farm-Scale Validation
The feed producer’s positive experience with LEVUCELL SB led to a comprehensive one-year trial spanning 76 swine operations, divided into control and test groups. The results were impressive:
Consistency is Key
Product stability during feed production proved equally important. Extensive testing included over 130 samples analyzed throughout the year, with 96.5% conformity in colony-forming unit (CFU) recovery despite the rigors of the pelleting process. This reliability, alongside positive zootechnical performance, reinforced the product’s value.
The large-scale trial’s design deserves recognition for its methodological rigor. By implementing a validated model across numerous farms, researchers effectively eliminated external factors that might skew results, ensuring data reliability rarely seen in field trials of this scale.
Based on the combined technical and stability results, the manufacturer has now fully incorporated LEVUCELL SB at 1 × 10⁹ CFUs per kg of feed across their complete and complementary feeds portfolio, including all fattening pig formulations.
Long-term Benefits
Beyond performance metrics, the incorporation of LEVUCELL SB contributes to environmental advantages. According to the customer, improved feed utilzation directly translates into reduced carbon emissions in their operation.
As we continue advancing probiotic applications in livestock production, this successful largescale implementation stands as testament to the power of science-based microbial solutions in addressing the complex challenges facing modern swine producers.
Published Jul 15, 2025 | Updated Jul 18, 2025
