Effect of supplemental yeast culture on blood parameters

Abstract

The uses of supplemental yeast cultures (YC) containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae are attractive as a basic nutrient source by a number of features: rich vitamins, enzymes, nutrients and other important co-factors (Dawson, 2002). Most of the studies were carried out on the effects of YC on the performance of ruminants and ruminal fermentation (Dawson, loc. cit.), but no comparative studies are available on the effect of YC on blood parameters of ruminants fed different levels of forage : concentrate feed ratios. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effects of yeast supplementation on i) haematopoiesis or haematological indices, ii) blood serum total protein, urea, cholesterol, creatinine, albumin, globulin levels, iii) minerals, iv) clinical enzymes in yearling Kivircik sheep fed different levels of forage : concentrate ratio.