Özet:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of live yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on calf live weight gain, daily live weight gain, fed intake, feed efficiency and health. Three groups were created by using calf fed starter diet without live yeast culture (Control group=C), with 5 gr/calf/day live yeast culture (Low dose live yeast culture =LDLYC) or 10 gr/calf/day live yeast culture (High dose live yeast culture =HDLYC). Blood samples were withdrawn from each calves at the end of experiment. Average birth weights of calves were 41.58, 42.42, 41.17 kg whereas average weaning live weights were 81.50, 84.58, and 85.58 kg for C, LDLYC and HDLYC, respectively. Daily live weight gains and total amount of weight gained during experiment were 0.67, 0.70, and 0.74 kg/d; and 39.92, 42.17, 44.42 kg for C, LDLYC and HDLYC, respectively. Mean daily feed intakes were 282.26, 300.65, and 254.01 gr/d for C, LDLYC and HDLYC, respectively. Mean feed efficiency values were 418.89, 419.44, and 342.93 gr feed/kg daily weight gain for C, LDLYC and HDLYC, respectively. Percentage of calves that had diarrhea during experiment was 83.33, 66.67 and 33.33 % for C, LDLYC and HDLYC, respectively. While the percentages of lymphocyte (P=0.06) linearly decreased the percentage of neutrophil (P=0.05) linearly increased with increasing levels of live yeast culture. In conclusion, it was thought that even though it was not statistically significant, addition of live yeast culture improved live weight gain, feed efficiency, and calf health and may have positive effect on immunity.

Anahtar Kelimeler: