Abstract:
Various feed additives are in widespread use in diets of ruminants to modulate rumen metabolism which ultimately may enhance nutrient utilization and animal performance. Yeast products such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus oryzae are often utilized in ruminants to improve nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation characteristics, milk production and daily gain. Yeast additives may exert positive effects on digestibility especially fiber components, probably by stimulating the cellulolytic microbial populations in the rumen. Rumen fermentation characteristics such as increased total volatile fatty acids, stabilization of rumen pH and decreased lactate concentration might be observed due to yeast supplementation. The increase in feed utilization and improvement of rumen fermentation along with increased dry matter may also enhance milk production and animal performance. Although, the favourable responses of yeast inclusion are usually moderate in ruminant nutrition, these responses are not always observed. The discrepancies of responses of yeast inclusion as a feed additive in different experiments might be attributed to dose, type of diets, strains of yeast, physiological stage and feeding systems. Therefore, yeast products should be added in diets by taking consideration of various interaction factors to achieve the consistent beneficial responses of yeasts in ruminant nutrition.
Amlan K. Patra , 2012. The Use of Live Yeast Products as Microbial Feed Additives in Ruminant Nutrition. Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 7: 366-375.
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