Effect of Yeast as Feed Supplement on Behavioural and Productive Performance of Broiler Chickens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of new patent probiotic inactivated Saccharomyces cerevisiae Var. ellipsoideus (Thepax (R)) and other commercial yeast "Saccharomyces cerevisiae" either live or dry feed additives, on behavioral and productive performance of broiler chickens. A total of 496 day-old Cobb chicks were used and divided into 4 groups, 2 replicates for each. Chicks in group one were fed on commercial basal diet as a control group c, the chicks in other three groups were fed on the same diet enriched with 0.5 gm Live yeast / kg diet for group two (T1), 1 gm. dry yeast /kg diet for group three (T2) and 1 gm inactivated yeast /kg diet for group four (T3) (this dose of inactivated yeast was 0.5 g/kg in grower diet). During 5 weeks experimental period, behavioral measurements as frequency and duration of feeding and drinking behavior; comfort behavior including wing and leg stretch, preening, ground scratch, body shaking and resting behaviour were observed and recorded. Broiler performance including weekly feed intake, weekly body weight gain, final feed intake, final body weight, feed conversion ratio, dressing weight, dressing percentage, mortality rate, and European efficiency index were calculated. Significant differences were observed between different yeast types in ingestive behavior, comfort behaviour, feed intake, final body weight, food conversion ratio, dressing weight, dressing percentage, mortality rate, and European performance index. It can be concluded that the inactivated yeast probiotic can be included in broiler diets for their beneficial effect and to improve their behavioral and productive performance. [ Kassem G. El Iraqi and Rabie H. Fayed. Effect of Yeast as Feed Supplement on Behavioural and Productive Performance of Broiler Chickens. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):4026-4031]. (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 600