The effect of live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as probiotic supply on growth performance, feed intake, ruminal pH and fermentation in fattening calves.

BACKGROUND

Live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used for a long time in ruminant feed as a probiotic supply on the intensifying system to avoid acidosis.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the effects of addition of live yeast S. cerevisiae in calf feed on growth, rumen pH and in vitro digestibility.

METHODS

Sixteen Holstein calves were divided into two homogeneous groups corresponding to body weight. The ration comprises wheat straw 5 kg dry matter (DM)/calf/day and 8 kg DM/calf/day concentrate for the control group C and for the group LY. Each calf of the live yeast group LY gets more than C group, 28 g/calf/day of live yeast S. cerevisiae powder on the concentrate.

RESULTS

This supplementation improves significantly (p < 0.003) the mean daily gain during the trial (ADG) with 400 g/calf. A notable increase (p < 0.004) was seen in final body weight gain (FWG) with 39.1 kg/calf. The live yeast supplementation decreases the feed intake and significantly (p < 0.05) the feed conversion rate (FCR) average. The live yeast S. cerevisiae as probiotic supply in ruminant feed improves the growth performance and feed efficiency in fattening calves.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, we mentioned that live yeast supply induces a considerable advance in growth performance for calves.