Effects of feeding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), organic selenium and chromium mixed on growth performance and carcass traits of hair lambs

• Published in: Journal of Integrative Agriculture Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 575 - 582
• Main Author: Pedro A Hernndez-Garca, Alejandro Lara-Bueno, Germn D Mendoza-Martnez, Jos R Brcena-Gama, Fernando X Plata-Prez, Rufino Lpez-Ordaz, Jos A Martnez-Garca (Member of JIA Editorial Board Institute of Crop Science)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Science Press 01-03-2015; Faculty of Veterinary and Livestock University Center, Autonomous University of the State of Mexico, Amecameca 56900, Mexico%Department of Animal Production, Chapingo Autonomous University, Chapingo 56230, Mexico%Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Metropolitan Autonomous University Xochimilco Unit, Mexico City 04960, Mexico%Institute of Genetic and Productivity Livestock Center, Postgraduate Col ege, Montecil o 56230, Mexico; Elsevier
• Subjects: organic selenium and chromium; Pelibuey×Katahdin sheep; yeast; yeast organic selenium and chromium Pelibuey×Katahdin sheep; organic selenium and chromium; yeast; Pelibuey×Katahdin sheep
• ISSN: 2095-3119; 2352-3425
• DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(14)60833-9

Yeasts and organic minerals are used in diets to improve health, productive performance and some carcass characteristics of ruminants and non-ruminants. Thirty-two lambs (Pelibuey×Katahdin; BW=(30.55±1.67) kg; n=8) were used in a 56-d feeding experiment to study the effects of different levels of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae; yeast), selenium (Se) and chromium (Cr) mixed (Se-Cr), and a mixture of yeast-Se-Cr on growth performance and carcass traits. Animals were stratified by body weight (BW) and randomly assigned to one of four treatments: 1) control group (0.0 g kg–1 yeast); 2) yeast (1.50 g kg–1 dry matter intake (DMI) d–1); 3) Se-Cr premix (1.5 mg kg–1 DMI d–1 for each mineral); and 4) yeast-Se-Cr mixture. There were no treatment effects on final BW; whereas lambs fed Se-Cr or yeast-Se-Cr had higher (P<0.05) DMI than animals supplemented with only yeast. Average daily gain (ADG), gain:feed ratio, chop area, dorsal fat and carcass yield were similar (P>0.05) among treatment groups. In conclusion, supplementation with yeast, Se-Cr mixed or yeast-Se-Cr did not improve ADG, final BW, back fat content and carcass yield of growing of Pelibuey×Katahdin lambs. Supplementation with Se-Cr and yeast-Se-Cr increased DMI, and approximately 250 g ADG animal–1 d–1 was produced with no negative effects on growth and health of the animals.