JNS_AgriBiotech_Vol_IABC_14. Omar 2016.pdf (original) (raw)

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae feed supplement on lambs growth and their feed intake. For this trial, 14 lambs aged of 148 days were used during 9 weeks and allocated to 2 groups according to body weight and age. Lambs received a basal diet of oat hay ad libitum supplemented with whole grain barley (400g) and concentrate (400g). The control group (C) received oat hay ad libitum, whole grain barley (400g) and concentrate (400g). The second group (Y) received the same feeds as the C group in addition to 1,5g/lamb/day of yeast Actisaf ® Sc 47. The ration was distributed twice a day at fixed times. Animals had free access to water. Results indicated that the average amount of oat hay voluntarily ingested was 147,1 and 148,7 g DM/lamb/day, for C and Y groups, respectively in the first week of control. Feed intake increased slightly until the 5 th week and reached a maximum around the 9 th week of trial (374,6 vs. 439,9 g DM/lamb/day for C and Y groups, respectively). Weight of lambs evolved during the trial period, it increased from 22,5 kg to 30,5 kg for C group and 22,3 kg to 34,5 kg for Y group with a notable superiority for Y lambs compared to C animals. For the daily gain, the respective averages are 145 g/day and 223 g/day for lambs of C group and Y one. There significant differences for daily gain (g/day) within 5 th , 6 th , 8 th weeks and throughout the whole growth trial (1 th ; 8 th week). Feed conversion decreased notably for lambs of Y group For Facies fermentation parameters (digestibility organic matter (OMD), metabolisable energy (ME), volatils fatty acids (VFA) and nitrogen ammonia (NH3-N)) did not reveal significant differences from yeast addition (P> 0.05).