Malic Acid, Yeast and Organic Minerals: Nutritional Strategies to Support Ruminal Efficiency in Catt
Introduction
The rumen is a complex and dynamic microbial ecosystem in which bacteria, protozoa, fungi and archaea participate in the transformation of dietary nutrients into compounds that can be utilised by the animal.
Maintaining the balance of this ecosystem is essential for fibre digestion, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and efficient nutrient utilisation.
However, high-energy diets, abrupt dietary changes or periods of high productive demand can alter the ruminal fermentation profile. High acid production combined with insufficient lactate utilisation may contribute to a decrease in ruminal pH and disrupt microbial populations and digestion.
For this reason, modern ruminant nutrition pays particular attention to strategies capable of modulating ruminal fermentation and promoting efficient nutrient utilisation.
Among the approaches investigated are malic acid and its salts, products derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and certain trace elements supplied in organic forms.
These components act on different and potentially complementary physiological processes.
Malic acid and ruminal energy metabolism
Malic acid is a dicarboxylic acid naturally present in many plant tissues and involved in important energy metabolism pathways.
Its interest in ruminant nutrition is primarily related to its ability to influence certain pathways of ruminal fermentation.
One of the most extensively studied mechanisms involves microorganisms capable of utilising lactate, such as Selenomonas ruminantium. Malate acts as a metabolic intermediate in pathways that may promote lactate utilisation and propionate formation.
This mechanism is particularly relevant because lactate can accumulate rapidly during intensive fermentation of readily fermentable carbohydrates.
Furthermore, propionate is one of the main precursors of hepatic gluconeogenesis in ruminants. Changes in the VFA production profile may therefore influence the metabolic utilisation of energy.
What does the scientific evidence show?
A meta-analysis published in 2025 jointly evaluated different studies investigating supplementation with malic acid or malate in cattle.
The results show that the effect depends, among other factors, on the chemical form used and the characteristics of the diet. Malate showed favourable results regarding ruminal pH stability in some analyses, while supplementation with malic acid or malate increased certain fermentation products, such as propionate, and modified several metabolic and digestive indicators.
These findings show that the nutritional interest of malic acid should not be limited to a potential effect on ruminal pH.
Its role should be considered within a broader mechanism involving the modulation of certain fermentation pathways, lactate metabolism and propionate production.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae products and ruminal nutrition
Products derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae used in animal nutrition can differ considerably depending on their manufacturing process.
Unlike live yeast, inactivated yeast does not exert its effects through the metabolic activity of viable cells. Its nutritional interest is primarily associated with components derived from yeast biomass and cellular structures.
The cell walls of S. cerevisiae may contain functional polysaccharides such as β-glucans and mannans/mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS). Depending on the nature of the product, other constituents originating from the yeast cells or production process may also be present.
These compounds have attracted particular interest in ruminant nutrition because of their potential interactions with the microbiota and the digestive environment.
What does the scientific evidence show?
Studies conducted in cattle indicate that certain non-live yeast-derived products may influence nutrient utilisation and various parameters related to the digestive environment.
In dairy cows, supplementation with autolysed Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast was associated with improved feed efficiency in one of the trials, without significant changes in nutrient digestibility, ruminal pH or total VFA concentration.
Other studies investigating yeast-derived fractions, including mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), β-glucans and mannans, have also reported changes in certain ruminal fermentation parameters.
However, the responses observed remain dependent on the nature of the yeast product, its composition, the dose used and the characteristics of the diet.
RUMITEC PREMIUM contains an inactivated yeast product derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Its nutritional interest should therefore be considered in the context of supplying components derived from yeast biomass rather than as a live probiotic.
Consequently, results obtained specifically with live yeast cannot be directly extrapolated to the product.
Zinc, copper and manganese: essential trace elements
Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) are essential trace elements involved in numerous physiological processes in cattle.
Among other functions, they act as components or cofactors of enzyme systems involved in metabolism, antioxidant mechanisms, tissue maintenance and regeneration, and various biological functions.
Zinc plays an important role in protein synthesis, cellular metabolism and keratinisation.
Copper is involved in several enzyme systems, iron metabolism and antioxidant defence mechanisms.
Manganese contributes, among other functions, to energy metabolism and the development and maintenance of tissues and bone structures.
In addition to the total amount supplied by the diet, the chemical form in which these trace elements are supplemented is also an important factor in their utilisation by the animal.
Nutritional interest of zinc, copper and manganese glycine chelates
In glycine chelates, zinc, copper or manganese is associated with glycine, a low-molecular-weight amino acid.
This complexation represents one of the strategies used to provide trace elements in an organic form.
The nutritional interest of these forms is related, among other factors, to their behaviour within the gastrointestinal tract and their potential to promote mineral availability to the animal. The nature and stability of the complex formed between the trace element and its ligand are factors that may influence its bioavailability.
What do studies in ruminants show?
Recent data obtained in dairy cows are particularly relevant regarding the combined use of Zn, Cu and Mn in glycinate forms.
In a study published in 2026 involving 60 dairy cows supplemented from 28 days before calving until 150 days after calving, complete replacement of inorganic Zn, Cu and Mn sources with glycinates resulted in a significant increase in milk production (p = 0.002) as well as fat- and protein-corrected milk production (p = 0.024), compared with the sulphate forms.
Glycinate supplementation was also associated with a higher plasma zinc concentration (p = 0.042) and increased immunoglobulin G (IgG; p = 0.046).
Furthermore, groups receiving organic sources either partially or completely had a lower somatic cell count (p = 0.024) than the group supplemented exclusively with sulphate forms.
These findings are particularly relevant because they simultaneously concern the three trace elements Zn, Cu and Mn and directly compare glycinate forms with the corresponding inorganic sources in dairy cows.
Nutritional interest related to the form of supplementation
Overall, the available evidence highlights the potential value of glycinates as organic sources of Zn, Cu and Mn in ruminants.
Favourable effects have been observed on mineral status and, under certain experimental conditions, on various productive and physiological parameters.
However, the magnitude of these responses may vary depending on the level of supplementation, diet composition, mineral interactions, and the nutritional and productive status of the animal.
RUMITEC PREMIUM: a complementary nutritional approach
The scientific evidence presented in this article highlights the interest of different nutritional strategies acting through complementary mechanisms in ruminants.
RUMITEC PREMIUM, a complementary feed developed by TEA – Tecnoaditivos Españoles Avanzados for dairy cows and beef cattle, follows this approach.
Its formulation combines:
- an inactivated yeast product derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae;
- DL-malic acid (1a296);
- copper(II)-glycine chelate hydrate (3b413);
- zinc-glycine chelate hydrate (3b607);
- manganese-glycine chelate hydrate (3b506);
- sodium chloride;
- precipitated silica (E551a) as a technological additive.
This combination therefore brings together malic acid, components derived from inactivated yeast and trace elements supplied as glycine chelates, whose mechanisms and nutritional relevance have been discussed in the preceding sections.
Conclusions
Ruminant nutrition relies on the interaction between ruminal fermentation, nutrient utilisation and an adequate supply of essential trace elements.
The scientific evidence presented in this article highlights the relevance of several complementary approaches: malic acid in the modulation of certain ruminal fermentation pathways, components derived from inactivated yeast products, and the supply of Zn, Cu and Mn as glycine chelates.
RUMITEC PREMIUM combines these different components within a single formulation, providing a complementary nutritional approach intended for dairy cows and beef cattle.
References
Malic acid
da Rocha, L. T. et al. (2025). Exploratory Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Malic Acid or Malate Addition on Ruminal Parameters, Nutrient Digestibility, and Blood Characteristics of Cattle. Animals, 15(15), 2177.
DOI: 10.3390/ani15152177
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152177
Saccharomyces cerevisiae-derived products
Takiya, C. S., Chesini, R. G., de Freitas, A. C., Grigoletto, N. T. S., Vieira, D. J. C., Poletti, G., Martins, N. P., Sbaralho, O. P., Roth, N., Acedo, T., Cortinhas, C. & Rennó, F. P. (2024). Dietary supplementation with live or autolyzed yeast: Effects on performance, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 107(7), 4495–4508.
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24194
https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-24194
Garcia Diaz, T., Branco, A. F., Jacovaci, F. A., Jobim, C. C., Daniel, J. L. P., Bueno, A. V. I. & Ribeiro, M. G. (2018). Use of live yeast and mannan-oligosaccharides in grain-based diets for cattle: Ruminal parameters, nutrient digestibility, and inflammatory response. PLoS ONE, 13(11), e0207127.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207127
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207127
Zn, Cu and Mn glycine chelates
Hundal, J. S., Sharma, A., Kore, K., Singh, N. & Sharma, A. (2026). Impact of partial versus complete replacement of inorganic copper, zinc and manganese with organic sources on production, reproduction and immune status in dairy cows. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 340, 116803.
DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2026.116803
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2026.116803
More information
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