Effect of Celmanax on feed intake, live weight gain and nematode control in growing sheep

Abstract

The role of yeast supplementation in small ruminants on rumen fermentation, animal performance, and nematode control is still unclear. The effect of Celmanax ® (yeast culture product) in two diets using lambs on body weight gain, rectal temperatures and nematode loads were monitored. 24 sheep (17 ± 2.8 kg BW), housed in individual pens, were divided into four treatments and fed on four basal diets; lucerne meal (LC), lucerne meal plus Celmanax ® (LCC), sunflower meal (SF), and 4 sunflower meal plus Celmanax (SFC), for 96 days including 14 days adaptation. Dry matter intake, average body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were calculated. Rectal temperatures and nematode egg count/gram (EPG) were measured once a week. Feed intake was higher (P < 0.05) in LCC and SFC than in LC and SF, respectively. Overall, weight gain was higher in SFC (P < 0.05) than SF. Feed conversion efficiency was higher (P < 0.05) in LCC than LC. Nematode EPG were lower (P < 0.05) in Celmanax ® supplemented diets (LCC and SFC) than in their controls. Rectal temperatures dropped (P < 0.05) in Celmanax ® diets. These findings suggest that, Celmanax ® has the potential of improving animal performance and may be used in conjunction with other anthelmintics to control nematodes.

Effects of Yeast Culture Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Blood Metabolites, and Immune Response in Geese

“…At appropriate YC levels, BWG was unattributed to increased feed consumption, and even Liu et al [28] indicated that 0.2% dietary YC supplementation decreased feed intake in laying hens. Studies with livestock on cattle [14,29,30], sheep [31], and pigs [3,8,32] also demonstrated that dietary YC supplementation increased ADG. These benefits may be because YC supplementation influences gastrointestinal microbiota and intestinal morphology to improve nutrient digestion and retention [3,10,33], and it increases the relative abundances of cellulolytic, amylolytic and lactate-utilizing bacteria [34].…”