Centre for Advanced Faculty Training in Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, India
*Corresponding author: arensachin@gmail.com
**Present address: Zonal Project Directorate, Zone-II, ICAR, Kolkata-700 097, India
Online published on 24 October, 2013.
A study of 120 days was conducted to assess the effect of feeding Saccharomyces cerevisiae on performance of early-weaned crossbred (Landrace × Desi) piglets, assigned to four different groups (T1, T2, T3 and T4), twelve piglets in each group following completely randomized design. Piglets under T1 and T2 were weaned at 28d of age while those under T3 and T4 were weaned at 42d of age. The T1 and T3 piglets were fed the basal diet without S. cerevisiae, whereas, piglets in T2 and T4 groups were supplemented with S. cerevisiae (200 g maize fermented with S. cerevisiae/d/piglets on fresh basis containing 2-3x106 cfu/g). The ADG was higher (P<0.05) in T4, lower in T1 and comparable between T2 and T3. There was no difference in digestibility of DM, OM, ADF, hemicellulose and total carbohydrates among the four groups, except for CP digestibility. The digestibility of NDF and EE were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T4 than T3. Values of FCR were higher (P<0.05) in T1, lower in T4 and comparable between T2 and T3. Faecal yeast count was higher (P<0.05) in T2 and T4 as compared to non-supplemented groups T1 and T3, however, coliform count was lower (P<0.05) in T2 and T4 as compared to nonsupplemented groups. The villus height and villus height: crypt depth ratio was increased (P<0.05) in T2 and T4 groups. It is concluded that the stress and constraints of the early weaning may be ameliorated by the supplementation of live S. cerevisiae and performance of piglets may be enhanced.
Early-weaned, Intestinal morphology, Performance, Piglets, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
