HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lesmeister, K. E. Articles by Gabler, M. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lesmeister, K. E. Articles by Gabler, M. T.

Effects of Supplemental Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Culture on Rumen Development, Growth Characteristics, and Blood Parameters in Neonatal Dairy Calves

Department of Dairy and Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802

Corresponding author: A. J. Heinrichs; E-mail: ajh{at}psu.edu.

Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) culture was added to a texturized calf starter at 0 (control), 1, or 2% of dry matter to determine effects on intake, growth, blood parameters, and rumen development. Seventy-five Holstein calves (38 male; 37 female) were started on the experiment at 2 ± 1 d of age and were studied for 42 d. Starter intake was measured, and fecal scoring was conducted daily. Growth and blood parameter measurements were recorded at weekly intervals. A subset of 6 male calves (2 per treatment) was euthanized at 5 wk of age, and rumen tissue was sampled for rumen epithelial growth measurements. An additional 6 male calves were euthanized at 6 wk of age for rumen epithelial growth measurements. Inclusion of yeast culture at 2% of the starter ration significantly increased starter and total dry matter intake, average daily gain, and daily hip width change when compared with the control treatment. Average daily gain was improved by 15.6% for the 2% yeast treatment. Daily change in hip height was also significantly greater for calves receiving 2% supplemental yeast culture than for calves receiving 1%. No significant treatment differences were observed for any other variables. These data suggest that the addition of yeast culture in a dairy calf starter at 2% enhances dry matter intake and growth and slightly improves rumen development in dairy calves.

Key Words: yeast culture • rumen development • calf

Abbreviation key: ADG = average daily gain, DS = days scoured, FE = feed efficiency, HEM = blood hematocrit, PL = papillae length, PTP = plasma total protein, PW = papillae width, RWT = rumen wall thickness, 1YC = 1% yeast culture, 2YC = 2% yeast culture

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. M. Daniels, S. R. Hill, K. F. Knowlton, R. E. James, M. L. McGilliard, and R. M. Akers Effects of Milk Replacer Composition on Selected Blood Metabolites and Hormones in Preweaned Holstein Heifers J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2008; 91(7): 2628 - 2640. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. X. Tang, G. O. Tayo, Z. L. Tan, Z. H. Sun, L. X. Shen, C. S. Zhou, W. J. Xiao, G. P. Ren, X. F. Han, and S. B. Shen Effects of yeast culture and fibrolytic enzyme supplementation on in vitro fermentation characteristics of low-quality cereal straws J Anim Sci, May 1, 2008; 86(5): 1164 - 1172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. J. A. Magalhaes, F. Susca, F. S. Lima, A. F. Branco, I. Yoon, and J. E. P. Santos Effect of Feeding Yeast Culture on Performance, Health, and Immunocompetence of Dairy Calves J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2008; 91(4): 1497 - 1509. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]