Performance of crossbred dairy Friesian calves fed two levels ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae: intake, digestion, ruminal fermentation, blood parameters and faecal pathogenic bacteria

Abstract

SUMMARYThe effect of feeding two levels ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeon the performance of crossbred Friesian calves was investigated. Twenty-four neonatal male Friesian × Baladi calves (35·5 ± 0·25 kg of initial body weight) were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design into three experimental groups for 90 days (eight calves per group). Calves fed their diets without yeast (S. cerevisiae) were considered as Control, while the diets of other calves were supplemented daily either with 2·5 g (YL diet) or with 5 g (YH diet) of yeast per calf. Calves fed the YH diet showed increased feed intake, while dry matter and fibre digestibilities were increased in calves fed YH and YL diets. Calves fed YL and YH diets showed lower ruminal ammonia-N and higher total volatile fatty acids, acetate and propionate concentrations than Control calves. Both YH and YL calves showed increased plasma concentrations of total protein, globulin and glucose and decreased cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. Calves’ final weight and daily gain were increased withS. cerevisiaeyeast supplemented diets. After 42 days of experiment,Clostridiumspp.,Escherichia coliandEnterobacteriaspp. counts were down to undetectable levels in the faeces of calves fedS. cerevisiaeadditive. It could be concluded that addingS. cerevisiaeto milk-fed calves increased feed utilization and improved pre-weaned calf performance and health status, reducing faecal pathogenic bacteria.