Yeast cells are tiny powerhouses packed with bioactive components. As such, yeast has become a key ingredient in modern animal nutrition, valued for its ability to support gut health, boost immunity, and improve feed efficiency.
To make the bioactive compounds within yeast cells available to animals, the tough outer cell wall must first be broken down. The process used to achieve this plays a key role in determining how effective it will be in supporting animal health and performance. Understanding these processing methods is essential for making the most of what yeast has to offer. Read More
Let’s break down the two main processing methods for yeast: exogenous hydrolysis and endogenous hydrolysis – also known as autolysis.
Exogenous hydrolysis is a process where enzymes or acids break the yeast cell from the outside. The pH must be adjusted, enzymes added, heat applied and pH adjusted again. This process is fast and can utilize dead yeast cells, but adds ash, increases cost, and is often harsh – damaging the natural nutrients.
Endogenous hydrolysis – or autolysis – offers a more natural option. This process works from the inside out, using temperature, pH, and salt to disrupt the cell’s osmotic balance. It requires a high-quality live yeast source.
Autolysis uses the cells’ own enzymes and internal metabolism to break the cell wall, resulting in larger particles of mannan oligosaccharides (or MOS) and beta-glucan – perfect for resisting digestion by gut microbes.
At Natural Biologics, we have the advantage of using autolysis. Our yeast products are produced in an ethanol plant that is co-located with the yeast autolysis facility, allowing us to harvest live yeast from ethanol fermentation. The live yeast is piped directly to the autolysis processing area, reducing any death loss from temperature fluctuations or extended time in transport.
The ethanol fermentation process results in a thicker cell wall, delivering more MOS and beta-glucan in the final product. The autolysis process produces a high-quality, stable yeast product.
So, why autolyzed yeast? The larger MOS particles bind pathogens very effectively. The process also produces a more stable product which reduces digestion by gut microbes and delivers a higher bioactive content in the final product.
Autolysis offers more control over the yeast reaction and better cost management. In the end, it’s a simpler, more natural, and cost-effective process.
At Natural Biologics, we choose autolyzed yeast because process matters. For healthier animals and a more efficient operation, trust the natural process and the natural solutions from Natural Biologics.
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