Effect of thermo-tolerant yeast on intake and nutrient digestibility’s in Murrah buffalo

Materials and Methods Dietary supplementation of probiotic yeast ( ) was noted to improve the animal performance by improving the digestibility of nutrients and rumen bacterial number [1]. Addition of yeast culture, as a probiotic, in animal feeds improves fibre digestion [2], the cellulolytic activity of rumen microbes [3], and reduces the lactate accumulation and oxygen concentration in rumen fluid. Many studies did not find any difference in dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility's by supplementing yeast to buffaloes [4, 5]. Ineffectiveness of yeast culture supplementation on productive performance of cattle is attributed to its instability at 39 C [6], pressure and volatile fatty acid concentrations [7] in the rumen. Normally yeast grows at mesophilic temperature (30 C) and pH range of 4.5 5.5 [8]. Since the rumen environment is so diversified, some strains of yeast may not be resistant to the rumen environment before they become effective. Considering the inconsistencies observed on growth and nutrient digestibilities with yeast supplementation, we have selected a thermotolerant OBV9 which is stress resistant and be able to grow at temperatures above 39 C, as in the rumen [9]. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of yeast strain OBV9 on intake and nutrient digestibility's in Murrah buffalo steers.