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.