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June 26, 2020, Wamego, KS -- MS Biotec announces the launch of LactiproFLX with Mega e, an innovation 10 years in the making. LactiproFLX enables beef and dairy producers to maintain digestive health in cattle and improve profitability. Today, beef and dairy producers need every competitive advantage. LactiproFLX provides a unique and powerful way to help maintain the digestive health of cattle.
LactiproFLX harnesses the power of Mega e, a naturally occurring rumen-native bacteria that is a superior lactic acid utilizer. LactiproFLX places a large number of Mega e directly into the rumen where it immediately begins targeting lactic acid. Lactic acid can build up and have dangerous effects on cattle as they transition to higher-energy diets or experience stress. LactiproFLX can be used for feedlot cattle, dairy and beef cows, and calves at key moments of diet transition and stress.
“Since we founded MS Biotec in 2010, our scientists have been researching the unique properties of Mega e,” explains CEO Leander van der Walt. “As we celebrate our 10th year in business, we’re thrilled to bring this innovative new product to market.”
LactiproFLX is available in 3 formulations:
LactiproFLX Feedlot: Ideally suited to help hospital cattle transition back to their home pen diet
LactiproFLX Dairy: For use in dairy and beef cows
- Ease fresh cow transition to higher-starch diet; support rumen health in hospital cows returning to the production herd
- Reduce risk of grain overload in beef cows grazing downed corn or crop residue
“LactiproFLX is a true breakthrough in the field,” van der Walt says. “We have evolved our original application of a high-volume drench with a 14-day shelf life to a convenient, easy-to-use capsule containing viable anaerobic bacteria with stability for months.”
MS Biotec Q&A
MS Biotec is pioneering the use of the rumen-native bacteria Mega e to manage diet transitions while maintaining animal health. Our signature line of Lactipro® products harness the power of Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125, a superior strain of lactic acid-utilizing bacteria. Our PhD-led teams collaborate with leading universities and researchers to advance the science of rumen health and validate every product we bring to market. MS Biotec and its affiliates are the world’s only commercial providers of Mega e, and the company is a co-owner of the patent for Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125.
What is LactiproFLX?
LactiproFLX is a small, convenient capsule that contains an appropriate amount of the rumen-native bacteria, Mega e, for the specific animal type. One capsule per administration is all that is needed. Lactipro places a large number of viable Mega e into the rumen to support healthy rumen function. MS Biotec selected this superior strain, Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125, because of its high growth rate in the rumen, its ability to grow at low pH, and its prolific utilization of lactic acid.
What is Mega e?
Mega e (Megasphaera elsdenii) is a rumen-native bacteria cattle rely on to digest high-energy diets. A naturally occurring anaerobic bacteria, Mega e has unique properties that make it essential to rumen health. While other rumen microorganisms consume amino acids and simple sugars first, Mega e prefers lactic acid as its energy source. As Mega e targets lactic acid in the rumen, it produces beneficial volatile fatty acids, such as butyric and propionic acids. Mega e is the primary and most prolific lactic acid utilizer. It contributes to the development and maintenance of a healthy rumen and enables pH regulation.
How does Mega e work?
With traditional feed transitions, naturally occurring Megasphaera elsdenii in the rumen takes weeks to reach populations required to effectively handle grain-based diets. As animals transition to higher-concentrate feed, lactic acid may accumulate in the rumen if Megasphaera elsdenii levels are not sufficient to handle the increased acidity. If lactic acid builds up, the rumen’s natural pH balance can become too acidic and health issues can result — from acidosis to rumen damage, weight loss to bloating, and even death. As the primary and most prolific lactic acid utilizer, Mega e works to improve rumen health, supports a healthy pH, and contributes to the growth of rumen papillae, which absorb nutrients.
How does MS Biotec produce and package LactiproFLX?
Our state-of-the-art production facility in Wamego, Kansas and PhD-led teams are dedicated to Mega e research and product innovation. Since our founding in 2010, we have continually improved Lactipro from a high-volume drench with a 14-day shelf life to our latest breakthrough, LactiproFLX. Our proprietary anaerobic production process and packaging enable us to freeze-dry Mega e in a live, suspended state. LactiproFLX offers a 12-month shelf life from manufacturing date, and can be used for feedlot cattle, dairy and beef cows, and calves.
