Results revealed that addition of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) at any level exhibited a significantly positive (P<0.05) effect on weight gain as compared to control group (Table 3). Study revealed significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight gain in the birds of treatment group D containing SC at the rate of 1.5g/Kg of diet followed by groups C, B and E. Dietary supplementation of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae significantly (P<0.05) improved body weight gain (Table 3). Improvement in weight gain may probably be due to improved digestion and absorption of nutrients
(Oyofo et al., 1989b; Newman, 1994), perfection in intestinal lumen health
(Bradley et al., 1995) and better digestibility of crude protein. These results confirmed the previous findings of
Zhang et al., (2005a); Angel et al., (2005); Nilson et al., (2004) and
Santin et al., (2001) who reported that dietary inclusion of SC in the diets of broilers showed better body weight gain. Feeding 1.5 g yeast/Kg diet to the experimental birds improved their body weight gain but chicken fed higher level of yeast (2g/Kg diet) had similar body weight gain to those of control group (Table 3). These results suggested that yeast enhanced this parameter up to a level of 1.5 g/Kg diet, whereas its beneficial effects reduced when supplementation level exceeded this level, probably due to changes in activities of digestive tract. In consonance with the results of this study,
Paryad and Mahmoudi (2008) observed improved body weight gain due to dietary inclusion of yeast at the rate of 1.5% of diet. The reason advocated that yeast culture contains yeast cells as well as metabolites such as organic acids, amino acids, peptide, oligosaccharides, aroma and flavour substances, and probably some unknown growth factors, which might have produced beneficial performance responses in animal production
(Zhang et al., 2005a). Contrary to the findings of the present study,
Bradley and Savage (1995) reported that the dietary inclusion of yeast products did not show any effect on performance in turkey poults. However, in the present study the effect of addition of yeast was tested in broilers diets. Therefore, the difference in the results of weight gain in these studies may be attributed to species difference. These findings are compatible with those observed by
Zhang et al., (2005a) who reported that feed consumption was affected significantly in broilers fed diet supplemented with 1.5 % SC. The results of this study are similar to what was observed by
Paryad and Mahmoudi (2008) when different levels of yeast culture were supplemented in the diets of broilers who observed improved feed intake at 1.5% of dietary inclusion level of yeast.
Shareef et al. (2009) reported that baker’s yeast (
Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation into the diet of broilers at level of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%, significantly increased feed consumption of birds when compared to control group and the group in which baker’s yeast was added at 0.5%. Significantly (P<0.05) better FCR was documented in the birds of treatment group D using SC at the rate of 1.5g/Kg of diet followed by group C, E, B and A. The FCR of the birds of treatment group E, which used SC at the rate of 2.0g/kg diet, was the lowest amongst the treated groups (Table 3). Better FCR of the birds using the yeast culture may be attributed to the digestion of crude protein, which enhanced growth of the birds resulting in better efficiency of feed utilization. Furthermore, yeast cells as well as metabolites such as organic acids, amino acids, peptide, oligosaccharides, aroma and flavour substances, and probably some unknown growth factors are present in yeast culture which might have produced beneficial performance responses in production
(Zhang et al., 2005b). Similar results were documented by
Paryad and Mahmoudi (2008) who observed better FCR due to dietary inclusion of yeast upto1.5% of diet. The present results were agreed with the previous findings of various studies
(Santin et al., 2001; Nilson et al., 2004; Angel et al., 2005; Zhang et al., 2005a). In agreement with the result of present study,
Onifade et al., (1999) reported that SC enhanced efficiency of feed utilization. The results of this research are similar to those observed by
Paryad and Mahmoudi (2008) who supplemented different levels of yeast culture in the diet of broilers and improved feed intake, body weight and efficiency of feed utilization was seen with 1.5% inclusion of yeast in feed. Yeast has been found to stimulate micro-organisms capable of modifying the gastrointestinal environment to improve health status and broiler performance (
Dierick, 1989). Mode of action by which it showed better performance include changes in micro-flora, growth enhancement of nonpathogenic facultative anaerobic and gram positive bacteria forming lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, suppression of growth of intestinal pathogens, enhancement of digestion and utilization of nutrients (
Yeo and Kim, 1997). Due to proper managemental condition, skillful efforts, timely vaccination and prevention, literally no mortality was observed during the experimental period.
The treatment group D having 1.5g/Kg SC manifested significantly (P<0.05) decreased blood glucose and total cholesterol level in the birds of treatment group D containing 1.5g/Kg SC while group C, B, E and A showed higher values in increasing order (Table 4). For both of these parameters significantly(P<0.05) higher values were observed in birds of treatment A (control) which was fed ration without SC and with maximum SC level as compared to other treatment groups showing the optimum values up to the level of 1.5g/Kg SC (Table 4). This reduced blood glucose level may be due to the suppressive effect of
S. cerevisiae on glucagons, which otherwise increases blood glucose in chickens, thereby maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. The results of the present study agree with those observed by
Gudev et al., (2008); Kannan et al., (2005) and
Onifade et al., (1999) who stated that there was a decrease in blood glucose for chicks fed diets containing yeast. The results of the study also agree with those observed by
Gudev et al., (2008) and
Kannan et al., (2005) who stated that there was a decrease in plasma cholesterol in chicks fed diets containing yeast. It was concluded that yeast could contribute to regulate serum cholesterol concentrations by deconjunction of bile acids. However, emission of bile acids improves cholesterol production (precursor), more molecules are consumed for regaining of bile acids (
De Smet et al., 1994). As an outcome of increased synthesis of bile acid, it may be expected that serum cholesterol level would be reduced.
Klaver and Van Der Meer (1993) advised that co-precipitation with bile acids might be advantageous for reduction of serum cholesterol concentrations. Similarly, chickens fed diet containing 1.5% SC, showed decreased serum cholesterol concentration (Table 4) as compared to control group (
Paryad and Mahmoudi, 2008). Results revealed no significant effect on hemoglobin of the birds of all treatment groups (Table 4). However, numerical values of Hb in the birds supplemented with SC @ 1.5g/Kg diet were apparently higher than those of control group (Table 4). This experiment showed no significant difference on the values of blood hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), differential leukocyte count (DLC) i.e. heterophils count and lymphocytes count. However numerically highest values for all these parameters were manifested by group D holding 1.5g/Kg SC feed except for lymphocytes count in which control group showed numerically highest values than other yeast supplemented groups (Table 4). Normal limits of Hb, DLC and PCV are 9.48 g/dL, 65-80% and 33.05% respectively. The results of the study depicted the values of these parameters were within normal range in birds. This indicated that none of the treatment showed any effect upon concentration of these parameters, resulting in the value being in normal range. Therefore,
Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be added in the diet of broilers without any harmful effect.
Economics of the experiment is shown in Table 5. The treatment diet D rendering 1.5 g/Kg
SC reared the birds with minimum cost as compared to other groups including control. Feed cost per kg live weight was minimum in case of group D and the profit was found to be highest for the birds in group D. The results of the present study are in line with the findings of
Paryad and Mahmoudi (2008) who reported that dietary inclusion of 1.5%
SC was more beneficial in broilers.
Zhang et al., (2005a) also reported a reduction in the cost of feed consumed at higher inclusion level of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae.