Yeast Cell Wall Supplementation Research Articles

Dietary supplementation of prebiotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall promotes growth performance and intestinal health in broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens

ABSTRACT 1. This study evaluated the effectiveness of yeast (S accharomyces cerevisiae) cell wall (YCW) supplementation on the growth performance, carcase characteristics, serum biomarkers, liver function, ileal histology and microbiota of broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens). 2. In a 35-d trial, 240 chicks aged 1-d-old were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups, each with 10 replicates: control (CON) with no challenge or additives, challenged with C. perfringens (CHAL), CHAL and supplemented with YCW at either 0.25 g/kg (YCW0.25) or 0.5 g/kg (YCW0.5). 3. In comparison to CON, the CHAL birds had reduced growth performance, survival rate, dressing percentage, breast meat yield, levels of total protein (TP), globulin (GLO), glucose (GLU), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), as well as a decreased Lactobacillus population (P < 0.01). Additionally, this group showed elevated levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and C. perfringens count (P < 0.01). Compared to CHAL, the YCW0.25 or YCW0.5 groups had improved growth performance, survival rate, dressing percentage, breast meat yield, levels of TP, GLO, GLU, and T-AOC, as well as the activities of T-SOD, GOT, and GPT, villus height, villus surface area, villus height to crypt depth ratio, and the populations of both Lactobacillus and C. perfringens; (P < 0.01). 4. The data suggested that YCW supplementation at either 0.25 or 0.50 g/kg can restore the growth performance of broiler chickens during a C. perfringens challenge.

Yeast cell wall supplementation modulates pre-weaning stress in male Nili Ravi buffalo calves

The effects of yeast cell wall (YCW) supplementation on growth performance, cell-mediated immune response, blood metabolites, and health scores in early-weaned male buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves were evaluated. Forty Nili Ravi buffalo calves were randomly divided into four groups and supplemented with four dietary treatments, namely control (animals without prebiotics), YCW-2 (yeast cell wall fed at 2 g/calf/day), YCW-4 (yeast cell wall fed at 4 g/calf/day), and cMOS-4 (commercial mannan-oligosaccharide fed at 4 g/calf/day). Milk intake, dry matter intake (DMI), and health scores were recorded daily, whereas body weight (body weight) and structural developments (hip height, wither height, heart girth, and body length) were recorded weekly. Feed efficiency and average daily gain (ADG) were calculated at the end of the experiment. Blood samples were collected fortnightly to determine glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyric acid (βHBA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), catalase, malondialdehyde, creatinine, hepatic enzymes, cholesterol, triglycerides, and total serum protein profile. The cell-mediated immune response was determined by the application of dinitrochlorobenzene directly to the skin. The results of the study revealed that supplementation of YCW and cMOS increased DMI, body weight, feed efficiency, ADG, and structural growth in buffalo calves, whereas faecal scores were significantly improved in supplemented groups compared to the control. Glucose, BUN, and βHBA improved in supplemented animals more than in the control group, indicating bioactivity that contributed to the improvement of gut health. Supplementation with YCW improved the growth performance, physiological responses, and gut health of early-weaned male buffalo calves.

Effects of dietary yeast cell wall supplementation on growth performance, intestinal Campylobacter jejuni colonization, innate immune response, villus height, crypt depth, and slaughter characteristics of broiler chickens inoculated with Campylobacter jejuni at d 21

A study was conducted to assess the effects of a dietary yeast cell wall (YCW) with and without a Campylobacter jejuni (CJ) challenge. A total of 2,240-day-old Ross 708 males were randomly assigned within 8 treatments with a 4×2 factorial design, with 4 diets (negative control, positive control, YCW constant dose (400 g/ton), and YCW step-down dose (800/400/200 g/ton in the starter/grower/finisher diets, respectively) and with and without d 21 CJ oral gavage challenge at 5.2×107 CFU/mL. At d 0, 14, 28, and 41 body weights and feed consumption were measured to determine performance. At d 14, 28, and 42, 8 jejunal and ileal histology samples per treatment were collected for villi morphology measurements. At d 22 and 28 (1- and 7-days postinoculation), 24 ileal tissue samples per treatment were collected for relative gene expression analysis. At d 42, 24 cecal content samples per treatment were collected for CJ enumeration. Finally, on d 44, 96 birds per treatment were processed to determine carcass yield and 16 carcass rinses per treatment were collected to determine CJ prevalence after processing. Diet or inoculation did not impact broiler performance (P > 0.05). Limited differences were observed in intestinal morphology, and villus height and crypt depth were different only in the ileum at d 42 (P=0.0280 and P=0.0162, respectively). At d 1 postinoculation, differences between treatments inoculated with CJ and PBS were observed in the expression of avian beta defensin 10 (AvBD10), interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), and interleukin 10 (IL-10) (P < 0.05). At d 7 postinoculation, expression of AvBD10, IL-1ß, and IL-10 was similar among all treatments (P > 0.05). At d 42, all birds, regardless the inoculation, had similar levels of CJ recovered from cecal contents (P > 0.05). After processing, carcass yield and CJ prevalence postchilling was similar in all treatments (P > 0.05). Overall, under the conditions of this study, the addition of YCW during a CJ challenge did not have an impact in growth performance, innate immune response, cecal colonization, carcass yield, or CJ prevalence after processing.

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Yeast Cell Wall Products Influence the Serum Proteome Composition of Broiler Chickens.

With an ever-growing market and continual financial pressures associated with the prohibition of antibiotic growth promoters, the poultry industry has had to rapidly develop non-antibiotic alternatives to increase production yields. A possible alternative is yeast and its derivatives, such as the yeast cell wall (YCW), which have been proposed to confer selected beneficial effects on the host animal. Here, the effect of YCW supplementation on the broiler chicken was investigated using a quantitative proteomic strategy, whereby serum was obtained from three groups of broilers fed with distinct YCW-based Gut Health Products (GHP) or a control basal diet. Development of a novel reagent enabled application of ProteoMiner™ technology for sample preparation and subsequent comparative quantitative proteomic analysis revealed proteins which showed a significant change in abundance (n = 167 individual proteins; p < 0.05); as well as proteins which were uniquely identified (n = 52) in, or absent (n = 37) from, GHP-fed treatment groups versus controls. An average of 7.1% of proteins showed changes in abundance with GHP supplementation. Several effects of these GHPs including immunostimulation (via elevated complement protein detection), potential alterations in the oxidative status of the animal (e.g., glutathione peroxidase and catalase), stimulation of metabolic processes (e.g., differential abundance of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), as well as evidence of a possible hepatoprotective effect (attenuated levels of serum α-glutathione s-transferase) by one GHP feed supplement, were observed. It is proposed that specific protein detection may be indicative of GHP efficacy to stimulate broiler immune status, i.e., may be biomarkers of GHP efficacy. In summary, this work has developed a novel technology for the preparation of high dynamic range proteomic samples for LC-MS/MS analysis, is part of the growing area of livestock proteomics and, importantly, provides evidential support for beneficial effects that GHP supplementation has on the broiler chicken.

Influence of prebiotic yeast cell wall extracts on growth performance, carcase attributes, biochemical metabolites, and intestinal morphology and bacteriology of broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella typhimurium and Clostridium perfringens

The current experiment was conducted to examine the efficacy of yeast cell wall (YCW) supplementation on growth performance, carcase characteristics, serum biochemistry, ileum histological structure, and caecum bacterial populations of broilers subjected to Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) and Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) challenges from 11 to 35 d of age. A total of 360 mixed-sex Ross 308 broilers were randomly distributed to 5 treatments with 12 replications of 6 birds each as follows: control with no additive or challenge; S. typhimurium challenge; C. perfringens challenge; S. typhimurium + YCW; C. perfringens + YCW. The YCW was supplemented at a level of 0.5 g/kg. Compared to the control group, the unsupplemented challenged groups had deteriorated average daily gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and European production efficiency factor (EPEF) during all experimental periods (p < .001) and reduced dressing percentage, glucose (GLU) concentration (p < .001), and Lactobacillus population (p < .01). Moreover, the S. typhimurium-challenged group had reduced total protein (TP) level and elevated S. typhimurium count (p < .001), while the C. perfringens-challenged group showed decreased liveability (p < .001) and crypt depth (p < .05) and increased C. perfringens count (p < .01) than the control group. Supplementation of YCW under S. typhimurium challenge improved FCR and EPEF during all experimental periods (p < .001), levels of TP, GLU (p < .001), and globulin (p < .05), villus height (VH) (p < .001), and villus surface area (p < .01) and reduced S. typhimurium count (p < .001). Broilers fed YCW and challenged with C. perfringens exhibited improved FCR during grower and overall periods, EPEF during all experimental periods, liveability, GLU level, and VH (p < .001). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of YCW could ameliorate the harmful impacts of disease challenges on the growth efficiency of broilers. Highlights Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast-derived prebiotics have been experimented and utilised as a potential alternative to antibiotics in poultry diets. Challenge with Salmonella typhimurium or Clostridium perfringens diminished growth efficiency and compromised intestinal health in broiler chickens. The dietary supplementation of yeast cell wall could reduce the negative effects of pathogens on broiler performance.

Effect of yeast cell wall supplementation on intestinal integrity, digestive enzyme activity and immune traits of broilers

ABSTRACT 1. The protective layer formed by intestinal epithelial cells acts as a barrier preventing the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria, aids digestion and passage of nutrients and reduces damage caused from toxins on the gastrointestinal tract. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a yeast cell wall-based product (YCW), on broiler intestinal integrity, digestive enzyme capacity and immune function. 2. A 35-d trial involving 246, one-d-of-hatch male broiler chickens was carried out at a trial facility at Agri-Food Biosciences Institute (AFBI, Belfast, UK). Birds were randomly allocated into 6 pens at day of hatch (41 birds/pen; 123 birds/group). Pens were divided into two groups: (1) basal diet and (2) basal diet that incorporated YCW at the manufacturers’ recommended inclusion levels (Alltech Inc., Lexington, Kentucky, USA). 3. In this study, YCW supplementation affected broiler intestinal morphology resulting in greater crypt depth, villus height and surface area, goblet cell density and mucus layer thickness and lower muscularis mucosae thickness. The digestive enzymes, maltase, sucrase and alkaline phosphatase, were significantly higher in the YCW supplemented group compared to the control. The expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-12 and IL-18, were significantly lower as was necroptotic cell death in YCW supplemented birds. 4. In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, YCW supplementation positively affected intestinal health parameters in broilers following 35-d supplementation.

Optimal form of yeast cell wall promotes growth, immunity and disease resistance in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

A 63-day feeding trial was conducted to explore dietary yeast cell wall (YCW) on growth, immunity and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS Ⅲ) (initial body weight: 8.49 ± 0.27 g). Four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain 0 % or 0.4 % three types of yeast cell wall (YCW) (termed as YCW0, YCW1, YCW2 or YCW3, respectively). Fish were randomly divided into 4 feeding groups in triplicates of 22 fish in each tank. Results showed that the highest final body weight was observed in fish fed YCW3 diet than the control (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, significantly higher FE was found in groups of YCW2 and YCW3 (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in feeding rate, specific growth rate, protein retention rate and energy retention rate among treatments (P > 0.05). Dietary supplementation of YCW decreased condition factor, hepatosomatic index and viscerosomatic index (P < 0.05). Dietary addition of YCW3 significantly increased serum complement C3 compared to control group (P < 0.05). The relative expression of complement C3 in liver was significantly upregulated in fish fed YCW3 supplemented diet (P < 0.05). Dietary YCW1 significantly increased lysozyme C mRNA level (P < 0.05). The relative expressions of TNF-α1 and IL-8 were not significantly affected by YCW inclusion in the diet (P > 0.05). Hepatic IL-1β and TGF-β expressions were significantly down-regulated in the fish fed YCWs (P < 0.05). Furthermore, dietary administration of YCW1 and YCW3 could to some extent improve disease resistance against bacterial challenge. Based on growth performance and immunity, 0.4 % YCW3 was recommended in the gibel carp diet.

Effects of dietary yeast cell wall on biochemical indices, serum and skin mucus immune responses, oxidative status and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in juvenile Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus)

The present study aims to shed light on the effects of yeast cell wall (ImmunoWall®) supplementation on biochemical indices, oxidative status, serum and mucus immune responses as well as disease resistance of juvenile Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus). For this purpose, one hundred fifty three juvenile Persian sturgeons (47.78 ‏± 0.39 g) were distributed into nine tanks (500 L) and fed with basal diets containing two levels of yeast cell wall (YCW) 0.5% (T1) and 1% (T2) and a diet without YCW as control (0%). As shown by the results obtained at the end of 56-day feeding trial, YCW had no significant effect on glucose, cortisol, SGOT, lysozyme and IgM in serum (P > 0.05) albeit an enhancement of cholesterol, LDH, ALP and SOD and ACH50 was observed in fish fed YCW supplemented diets. However, plasma triglyceride levels were lower in fish fed YCW compared with the control group. Also, total protein content, lysozyme and protease activities in skin mucus were unaffected by the supplemented diets (P > 0.05) and only total immunoglobulin and ALP enzyme activity were significantly increased in T1 and T2 groups (P > 0.05). The cumulative mortality of the fish fed supplemented diets at the end of disease challenge was 100% where cumulative mortality of those fed the control diet was 75% (P < 0.05). The present study shows that increasing immune parameters in serum and mucus of juvenile Persian sturgeon by YCW dietary supplementation did not improve resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila. According to the obtained results, the YCW supplementation at 0.5 and 1% in the juvenile Persian sturgeon diet is not recommended.

Dietary supplementation of yeast cell wall improves the gastrointestinal development of weaned calves.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential benefits of yeast cell wall (YCW) on the gastrointestinal development of weaned calves. Twenty healthy Holstein male calves (BW = 92 ± 8.29 kg and 60 ± 5 d of age) were randomly allocated into 2 groups: CON with no YCW, and YCW (accounted for 0.16% of the basal diet). The dietary concentrate-to-roughage ratio was 40:60. All the calves were fed regularly twice a day at 09:00 and 16:00 and had free access to water. The experiment lasted for 60 d. The results showed that calves fed YCW showed higher (P < 0.05) length, width, and surface area of papillae in the ventral sac of the rumen as compared to CON. For the dorsal sac of the rumen, the muscularis thickness was thicker (P < 0.05) in the YCW group when compared with CON group. The villus height of YCW calves was higher (P < 0.05) than that of CON in the ileum. Calves supplemented with YCW also showed a higher (P < 0.05) villus height-to-crypt depth ratio in the ileum. The YCW calves exhibited a greater (P < 0.05) thickness of the wall in the duodenum and jejunum. Calves supplemented with YCW improved (P < 0.05) the claudin 1 mRNA expression in the ileum and occludin mRNA expression in the jejunum and ileum. The YCW increased (P < 0.05) the contents of secretory immunoglobulin A in the jejunum and ileum of calves. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with YCW could improve the gastrointestinal development of weaned calves.

Short communication: Effect of yeast cell wall supplementation on peripheral leukocyte populations and mRNA expression of cytokines in lactating dairy cows

This study was designed to examine the effect of yeast cell wall (YCW) supplementation on peripheral leukocyte populations and mRNA expression of cytokines in lactating dairy cows. Fourteen Holstein lactating cows were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments; the control group (n = 7) were fed a total mixed ration without supplementation and cows in the YCW group (n = 7) were fed a total mixed ration supplemented with YCW (SafMannan; Phileo, Lesaffre Animal Care, Lille, France; 10 g/cow per day). Blood samples were collected 3 times during the experimental period [wk 0 (before any treatment), wk 4, and wk 8]. Peripheral leukocyte populations and cytokine mRNA expression of peripheral blood monocular cells were measured using flow cytometry and real-time PCR, respectively. Among the peripheral leukocyte populations, TcR1-N12 + and CD14+ T cells increased at wk 4, and CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells increased at wk 4 and wk 8 with YCW supplementation. The mRNA level of IL8 tended to be increased in the YCW group at wk 4. Expression of IL12A was lower in the YCW group than in the control group before the experiment (wk 0) but no differences were observed at later time points (wk 4 and wk 8). Expression of IL12A decreased in the control group and increased in the YCW group. Expression of CCR2 increased at wk 4, and CCL2 and CCL3 were increased at wk 8 in the YCW group. Thus, YCW supplementation increased the mRNA expression of cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of lactating dairy cows.

Effect of dietary supplementation of bentonite and yeast cell wall on serum endotoxin, inflammatory parameters, serum and milk aflatoxin in high-producing dairy cows during the transition period

Twenty-four Holstein cows were randomly allocated to four equal experimental groups containing a control (n = 6) and three treatment (n = 6) groups. Experimental animals were selected according to their average milk yield, weight, and body condition score. The experimental groups received basal diet + Saccharomyces Cerevisiae cell wall (SCW) (group 1), basal diet + bentonite + SCW (group 2), basal diet + bentonite (group 3), and basal diet (control), on a dry matter basis (group 4). Blood samples were taken 4, 3, and 1 week prior to and 1 and 3 weeks following parturition. Serum concentrations of haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and concentration of aflatoxin B1 in ration and M1 in milk and blood were determined during the transition period. The results showed that LPS concentration in blood was in the normal range in all groups. The acute-phase proteins (Hp and SAA) were in the normal range as well. The concentration of aflatoxin M1 in the serum of the control group was higher than other groups, yet lower in the group receiving toxin binders (p < 0.05). The mean aflatoxin M1 concentration in milk was the lowest in the group receiving SCW (p < 0.05). Similarly, the concentration of aflatoxin M1 in milk was the highest in the control group (p < 0.05). The study also showed that the levels of endotoxin in ration of different groups resulted from our experimental diet were not high enough to stimulate APP response. It was further observed that SCW might be able to reduce the level of aflatoxin in serum and milk. The results obtained from our study may lead to a better understanding of using dietary supplements, such as bentonite and yeast cell wall, during the transitional period. Moreover, the study may contribute to our knowledge on simultaneous LPS and toxin binders for providing more safe food during the transition period in cattle.

Effect of yeast cell wall supplementation on production performances and blood biochemical indices of dairy cows in different lactation periods.

Aim:This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of yeast cell wall (YCW) supplementation on production performances and blood biochemical indices such as liver enzyme activities, energy metabolites, and electrolyte concentrations of dairy cows in different lactation periods (LP).Materials and Methods:Thirty-two lactating Holstein cows were assigned into 2×2 factorial arrangement, in which the factors were the treatment (TM) (control [n=16] vs. YCW [n=16]) and the LP (early lactation [n=14] vs. mid-lactation [n=18]). The cows with day in milk (DIM) <120 (81±7 DIM) were defined as early lactating cows, whereas the cows with DIM >120 (179±5 DIM) were assumed as mid-lactating cows. The YCW (SafMannan; Phileo, Lesaffre Animal Care, France) was used as the dietary supplement (10 g/cow/day) in this experiment. The statistical analysis of the data was performed by the two-way analysis of variance using the general linear model procedure to determine the main effects (TM and LP) and their interaction (TM×LP) on production performances and blood biochemical parameters of experimental cows.Results:No significant effects (p>0.05) of YCW supplementation on production performances and blood biochemical indices of cows in TM groups (control vs. YCW) were observed; however, some obvious effects were detected in LP (early- and mid-lactation). Milk and milk component yield of cows in early lactation were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in mid-lactation, whereas somatic cell count and milk urea nitrogen were not different (p>0.05) with the YCW supplementation. The higher level (p<0.05) of serum albumin was found in mid-lactating cows after YCW supplementation. Before the experiment, the higher (p<0.05) non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and NEFA/total cholesterol (T-Cho) ratio, and the lower (p<0.05) calcium (Ca) concentration were observed in early lactating cows comparison with mid-lactating cows; however, there were not different after YCW supplementation.Conclusion:The positive effects of YCW supplementation on milk and milk component yields, energy metabolite, especially NEFA and NEFA/T-Cho ratio and Ca concentration were observed in early lactating cows rather than mid-lactating cows.

Evaluating the effect of yeast cell wall supplementation on ideal threonine to lysine ratios in broilers as measured by performance, intestinal mucin secretion, morphology, and goblet cell number

SUMMARY The objective of this study was to investigate whether or not a prebiotic yeast cell wall (YCW), previously shown to improve performance in challenge studies, affects threonine requirements of broilers. Gain, F/G, intestinal morphology, mucin secretion, and goblet cell (GC) number per villi were measured. A total of 240 1-d-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were distributed in 2 Petersime battery brooder units (48 pens; 5 birds per pen). Birds were fed for a 21-d trial with different threonine to lysine ratios (0.65, 0.70, and 0.75) with and without YCW at 250 ppm. A basal diet with 22% protein and 2,980 Kcal/kg ME was used for the dietary treatments. The calculated lysine concentration was 1.35%, while threonine was 0.88%, 0.95%, and 1.02%, respectively. Birds and feed were weighed by pen, and the weights recorded at days 0, 7, 14, and 21 of the experiment for general performance data. At day 21, samples from excreta and small intestine (jejunum and ileum) were collected. YCW did not show any significant effect with respect to the variables evaluated in this non-challenge study. There was no significant effect for threonine to lysine ratios for all performance variables that had been measured throughout the study. With respect to intestinal morphology, there were significant increases in main effects for the threonine to lysine ratio 0.75 compared with 0.65 in mucin secretion, GC, and jejunum VW, while the jejunum VH significantly increased compared with threonine to lysine ratio 0.70.

Effects of dietary supplementation of bentonite and yeast cell wall on serum blood urea nitrogen, triglyceride, alkaline phosphatase, and calcium in high-producing dairy cattle during the transition period

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of endotoxins binders (Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall (SCW) and bentonite (BEN)) on blood urea nitrogen (BUN), triglyceride, alkaline phosphates (ALP), and calcium (Ca) in high-producing dairy cows during the transition period. Twenty-four Holstein dairy cows (n = 6, average milk production = 35.8 ± 1.6 kg/day, body weight (BW) = 567.5 ± 40.3 kg, body condition score (BCS) = 3.5 ± 0.26 out of 5) were assigned in a completely randomized design, to the following treatments: (1) basal diet (BD), (2) BD + SCW, (3) BD + BEN, and (4) BD + SCW + BEN. Blood samples were taken 4, 3, and 1 weeks before and 1and 3 weeks after parturition. Serum concentrations of BUN, triglyceride, ALP, and Ca were measured. It was observed that, BUN concentration was lower in SCW + BEN group, probably because of the better utilization of NH3-N and better stimulation for ruminal microbial protein synthesis. Triglyceride plasma concentration was lower in the control group, which might be due to decreased lipolysis and a lower pH. The treatment groups showed no effect for Ca at any time point. Serum ALP concentration was within references range. In conclusion, lower BUN concentration could be a result of better stimulation of ruminal microbial protein synthesis in the treatment groups and also due to lower triglyceride in control group, which might be result of lower pH in the rumen, we suggest that endotoxins binders (especially combined feeding of endotoxin binders) can modulate rumen function by optimizing the rumen pH.

Efficacy of dietary yeast cell wall supplementation on the nutrition and immune response of Nile tilapia

Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates that improve the animal health via modulation of their intestinal beneficial organisms. Immunowall® is a commercial prebiotic consists of high concentration of yeast β-glucan (βG) and Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS). The current study was designed to investigate the prebiotic potential of Immunowall® on nutrition and health performance of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Three fish groups were nourished on control diet supplemented with 0%, 0.1% and 0.2% Immunowall® for two months. Both dietary levels of Immunowall® exhibited significant increase in growth parameters (P ≤ 0.05) as well as in white blood cell count, total protein, and globulin concentrations. While, the immune parameters such as antioxidant biomarkers (catalase and glutathione-reductase), non-specific immune response (e.g. phagocytic activity, phagocytic index and lysozyme activity) and immune-related genes expressions (e.g. TNF-α and IL-1β) were higher in 0.2% Immunowall® compared to 0.1% Immunowall® and control. Oral administration of β-glucan and MOS mixture reduced the mortalities after microbial infections with L. gravieae and A. hydrophila. Therefore, we can recommend the dietary inclusion of Immunowall® in aqua-feed as an efficient method to achieve feasible and sustainable fish production.

Assessing effects of yeast cell wall supplementation on threonine requirements in broilers as measured by performance and intestinal morphology

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether or not the use of a prebiotic yeast cell wall (YCW) affects threonine requirements in starter broilers. Two hundred and forty 1-d-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were distributed among 2 Petersime battery brooder units (48 pens; 5 birds per pen). Different threonine to lysine ratios (0.60, 0.65, and 0.70 to 1.0) with 1.22% available lysine with and without YCW at 250 ppm was fed to the chickens in order to evaluate performance and intestinal morphology over a 21-d trial. A basal diet with 22% protein and 2,980 kcal/kg ME was prepared to create the 6 dietary treatments. The calculated lysine concentration was 1.34%, whereas threonine was 0.81, 0.88, and 0.94%, respectively. Pen weights and feed consumption were recorded at d 1, 7, 14, and 21 of the experiment. Jejunal and ileal samples were collected on d 21 for histology analysis to evaluate villi height (VH), crypt depth, villi width (VW), and muscularis thickness. A threonine to lysine ratio of 0.7:1.0 resulted in significant improvement of performance variables with increased jejunum VW and ileum VH compared with the other threonine to lysine ratios. Adding YCW to starter broiler did not affect the requirement for threonine.

Effect of yeast cell wall supplementation in laying hen feed on economic viability, egg production, and egg quality

Yeast cell walls can strengthen the immune system and promote agglutination of gastrointestinal tract pathogens, thereby improving animal health and productivity. This study evaluated the effect of supplementing the diet of commercial laying hens with 0, 225, 450, or 900 ppm of yeast cell wall supplement on hen productive performance, egg quality, and economic viability. Yeast cell wall supplementation increased the feed intake, egg production, egg mass, albumen height, and Haugh unit score. Shell thickness and yolk color also were affected by the treatments. The economic viability analysis demonstrated that although feeding costs more with supplementation, the production of more eggs is possible, resulting in a greater than proportional increase in the gross margin. Thus, yeast cell wall supplementation had beneficial effects on the productive performance of laying hens, improved the internal and external egg quality, and contributed to greater profitability.

Influence of different yeast cell wall preparations and their components on performance and immune and metabolic pathways in Clostridium perfringens-challenged broiler chicks.

A study was conducted to evaluate the influence of the purification of yeast cell wall (YCW) preparations on broiler performance and immunogenic and metabolic pathways under microbial challenge. A total of 240 (day old) chicks were distributed among two battery brooder units (48 pens; 5 birds/pen; 8 replicates/treatment). A basal starter diet was divided into 5 batches to create 6 dietary treatments; non-challenge (NCh-C) and challenge (Ch-C) controls, semi-purified YCW containing cytosol contents (SPYCW; 250mg/kg), purified YCW (PYCW; 250mg/kg), 50% purified beta-glucan (BG; 130mg/kg), and 99.9% purified mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS; 53mg/kg). All birds were immunocompromised with infectious bursal disease vaccine (10× the recommended dose) on day 10 and then all birds except NCh-C birds were challenged with Clostridium perfringens (Cp) (107 cfu/mL) via oral gavage on days 16 and 17. On day 21, tissue samples were collected from the jejunum and duodenum for analysis with chicken-specific, peptide arrays to study the influence of YCW supplementation on immune and metabolic kinase pathways. On day 16, SPYCW had significantly lower body weight (BW) and weight gain (WG) than other treatments except BG (P < 0.05). The productivity index (PI) was lower in SPYCW and BG than in NCh-C, Ch-C, and PYCW. On day 21, after the Cp challenge, NCh-C was higher than Ch-C, SPYCW, and BG in BW, WG, and PI (P = 0.03). The PI of PYCW was similar to NCh-C. The addition of purified YCW to the starter broiler diets influenced the immune and metabolic pathways in the gut. A total of 459 and 367 peptides in the duodenum and jejunum, respectively, were changed due to the Cp challenge. The YCW treatments had different degrees of influence on these peptides for both the duodenum and jejunum. These results suggest that relative purification of YCW and specific fractions of the YCW can influence broiler performance differently during microbial challenges and can alleviate the impact of these stressors.

Yeast cell wall supplementation alters the performance and health of beef heifers during the receiving period

A study was designed to determine the effect of feeding yeast cell wall (YCW) on performance of newly received crossbred heifers (n = 140; 225 ± 9.4 kg). Heifers were sorted by source (n = 2) and arranged in a completely randomized block design (35 pens; 7 pens per treatment; 4 heifers per pen). Heifers were separated into treatments [control (CON), YCW A (2.5 g/d per head), YCW AA (5.0 g/d per head), YCW B (2.5 g/d per head), or YCW C (2.5 g/d per head)] and fed for 56 d. Daily DMI and individual BW (every 14 d) were collected. On d 56, cattle from treatments CON, YCW A, and YCW C (21 pens; 7 pens per treatment; 4 heifers per pen) were fitted with vaginal temperature (VT) recording devices. On d 63 cattle were weighed and challenged with a s.c. dose (0.5 μg/kg of BW) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A final BW was collected and VT devices were removed after 14 d. A significant source × treatment interaction was detected, and data were separated accordingly. In source 1, YCW C heifers exhibited greater BW at d 42 and ADG from 0 to 42 d compared with all other treatments (P = 0.02 and P < 0.01). In source 2, an increased linear effect for YCW A was detected for BW, ADG, and G:F from d 0 to 14. Following the s.c. LPS challenge, source 1 YCW C heifers exhibited greater ADG (P < 0.01) and G:F (P = 0.01) compared with CON. In source 2, no significant differences in performance were observed after LPS (P > 0.62). There was an increase in VT in all treatments after LPS (P < 0.01), with YCW C maintaining greater VT after LPS than CON and YCW A (P < 0.05) for both sources. These results suggest that YCW supplementation can improve ADG and DMI during the receiving period and affect the physiological response to a mild endotoxin challenge during moderate to severe heat stress.

Influence of feeding enzymatically hydrolysed yeast cell wall + yeast culture on growth performance of calf-fed Holstein steers

ABSTRACTOne hundred and sixty-eight crossbred steers (133 ± 7 kg) were used in a 336-d experiment to evaluate the effects of enzymatically hydrolysed yeast cell wall plus yeast culture (EHY) supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Treatments consisted of steam-flaked corn-based diet supplemented with 0, 195, 390 or 585 mg/kg EHY. Supplemental EHY enhanced overall (336-d) dry matter intake (DMI, P < .01), averagde daily gain (ADG, P = .04), and final carcass weight (P = .04). Responses were maximal (quadratic effect, P ≤ .02) at the 195 mg/kg level of EHY supplementation. Feed intake enhancements were observed throughout each 112-d period of the study. Improvements in ADG were largely the result of increased DMI, as gain efficiency and estimated dietary net energy (NE) were not affected by EHY supplementation. Effects of supplemental EHY on other carcass measures were not appreciable (P > .20), except for a slight lowering (0.7%, P = .04) in carcass yield. We conclude that throughout the growing-finishing period, supplemental EHY will enhance ADG, resulting in marked increases in final carcass weight. This effect is due to consistent increases in DMI, as supplementation did not affect gain efficiency or estimated dietary NE.