The effect of dietary inclusion of commercial yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on productive parameters of broilers. An experience in the classroom

Abstract

To comply with Nonruminant Nutrition and Feeding subject an experiment was conducted in “Ecoparque Pinares de Tenjo”, property of Fundación Universitaria Agraria de Colombia - uniagraria to evaluate the effects of two levels (0 and 0.5%) of granular commercial yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Levapan® on productive parameters in broiler chickens during an experimental period (1-13 days of age). One hundred day-old commercial Ross male broiler chicks were divided to 4 groups of 25 chicks each. Then 2 groups were allocated to one of the 2 experimental diets, randomly. Data were collected for body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and mortality ratio during the experimental period. Results showed that the use of commercial yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in diets of day-old Ross broilers to 13 d old had no significant effect on the performance of male broiler chickens (p > 0.1), but that level of yeast had positive influence on mortality. However, treatment containing 0.5% of commercial yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in comparison to the control group had the loweest feed intake (p < 0.001) during each experimental period and there was a tendency to improve feed conversion ratio from 11 to 13 d old in favor of treatment with yeast. The results suggested that yeast had no significant effect on weight gain, but did have an effect on feed intake, consequently we could include that level in broiler chicks diet safely, saving in their food. Key words: Yeast, probiotic, broiler chicken, productive parameters, nutrition.