Effect of thermo-tolerant yeast on intake and nutrient digestibility's in Murrah buffalo steers (Bubalus bubalis) fed straw based complete diet

Abstract

Aim: In the present study, we determined the effect and optimum level of inclusion of a thermo-tolerant probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae OBV9 on nutrient intake and digestibilities in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Materials and Methods: A straw based complete diet (crude protein (CP) 12%) with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% of lyophilized yeast was evaluated in a 4X4 Latin Square metabolism trial in fistulated Murrah buffalo steers (223.81 kg ± 2.91). Diet with no yeast was taken as control. Results: Dry matter intake (DMI) was not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by any level (%) of yeast in complete diet. The digestibility's (%) of dry matter (DM) and crude fibre (CF) were significantly (P0.05) different from each other. Intake of DCP (g/d or g/kg w0.75), TDN (kg/d or g/kg w0.75), ME (MJ/d or MJ/kg w0.75) and N balance (g/d) were not (P>0.05) affected by the level of yeast in the diet. Conclusion: It can be concluded that, 0.1% thermo-tolerant yeast had greater influence on majority of the nutrients in the straw based complete diets of Murrah buffaloes.

Keywords

• buffalo steers
• complete diet
• nitrogen balance
• nutrient digestibility
• thermo-tolerant yeast