EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF YEAST CULTURE ON DIGESTIBILITY, NITROGEN BALANCE AND RUMINAL CHARACTERISTICS IN BUFFALO BULLS

The study was planned to examine the effect of different levels of yeast culture on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and ruminal characteristics in Nili Ravi buffalo bulls. The Nili Ravi buffaloes occupy primary and key space in Pakistani Livestock herd and contribute major quantity of milk supply. The cheaper and easily available sources of nutrients can play pivotal role in its improvement. Four ruminally cannulated Nili Ravi buffalo bulls were distributed in a 4x4 Latin Square Design. Four diets containing 50% berseem and 50% wheat straw were formulated. Control diet (C) was without yeast culture. However, low (LYC), medium (MYC) and high yeast culture (HYC) diets contained 5, 10 and 15 g yeast culture per animal diet respectively on daily basis. The experiment lasted for forty days. First seven days were given as adaptation period followed by a collection period of three days. The results showed that dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) intakes were similar in buffalo bulls fed varying levels of yeast culture. Dry matter, CP, NDF and ADF digestibilities were higher in buffalo bulls fed various levels of yeast culture compared to control diet. Highest dry matter, CP, NDF and ADF digestibilites were observed in MYC. Nitrogen intake was higher in buffalo bulls fed varying levels of yeast culture than control. Highest nitrogen balance was observed in MYC diet. Highest Ruminal NH3-N was observed in control and lowest ruminal NH3-N was observed in MYC. Ruminal pH was higher in bulls fed MYC and HYC diets. These results indicate that yeast culture has positive effects on digestibility, nitrogen balance, ruminal pH and ruminal NH3-N concentration. So, yeast culture could be a useful tool to improve the performance of the animals.