Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility in Kivircik sheep

Abstract

Effect of viable yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was studied on ruminal fermentation and total digestibility in the rumen using cannulated sheep. Four Kiviricik sheep were used in a factorial arrangement of 4x4 Latin square designs. Treatment diets used were 700g/kg alfalfa hay + 300 g/kg concentrate mix (diet I), 700 g/kg alfalfa hay + 300 g/kg concentrate mix + 4 g/day Saccharomyces cerevisiae (diet II), 700 g/kg concentrate mix + 300 g/kg alfalfa hay + 4 g/day Saccharomyces cerevisiae (diet III), and 700 g/kg concentrate mix + 300 g/kg alfalfa hay (diet IV), respectively. Nutrient intakes did not change with yeast supplementatin among the animals fed diets. Ruminal pH at 0 h was lower when sheep fed with diet III and IV compared to diet I and II. Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation (diet II and III) increased ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration at 4 h. However, total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations were not affected with yeast supplementation, Saccharomyces cerevisiae supple-mentation did not affect nutrient digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF).