The Effects of Yeast Culture Products on Fattening Performance, Rumen Papilla Morphology, Some Blood and Rumen Fluid Parameters in Saanen Male Kids.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of live yeast culture and the live yeast culture enriched with vitamin-mineral supplementation as a feed additive on fattening performance, some blood and rumen fluid parameters in male kids. Totally 18 male Saanen goat kids (average 8 weeks old) were divided into one control and two treatment groups each containing 6 kids. Rations were prepared as isonitrojenic and isocaloric. Live yeast culture (LYC) and the yeast-vitamin-mineral complex (YVM) (RumiSacc® and Intetotal® respectively, Integra food Industry and Trade Co., Istanbul, Turkey, Live yeast cell 344 × 1010 cfu/g,) were incorporated into concentrates at the level of 0% (C), 1% (YC) and 1% (YVM) on as-fed basis. During the study concentrate feed and fresh water were given ad libitum and the ration did not contain any roughages. Dietary yeast culture at the level of 1 % increased final live weight (4.7% regarding control group) as numerically but not significantly. The fattening performance, rumen fluid and blood parameters were not statistically affected from the dietary treatments throughout the study. While the dorsal papillae length was not changed, ventral papillae length was decreased in the treatment groups. The length of papillae in YVM groups were similar to that of control groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]