Milk production and feed efficiencies as affected by dietary yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation during the transition period in Murrah buffaloes

ABSTRACT

Fourteen Murrah buffaloes in their second or third parities with confirmed pregnancies were selected and randomly divided into two groups viz. control and treatment with seven animals in each group to evaluate the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on milk production, its composition and the feed efficiencies. The treatment group was supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae @ 24 g/day which started a fortnight before parturition and continued after parturition until a total duration of 120 days was covered. The milk yield (MY), milk composition and feed efficiencies were recorded daily and analyzed fortnightly. MY was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in treatment group throughout the experimental period except at second fortnight. Fat content was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the treatment group at fifth, seventh and eighth fortnight of the experiment. There was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the SCC in the treatment group from second to eighth fortnight. The FCM and ECM were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the treatment group as compared to control group from third fortnight to eighth fortnight of the experiment. There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in dry matter intake between the two groups. The supplementation of fermented yeast culture (S. cerevisiae @ 24g/day) for a period of 120 days resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in MY and feed efficiencies. Moreover, it improved the quality of milk vis-à-vis fat, protein, lactose and total solids.

KEYWORDS:

• Saccharomyces cerevisiae
• dry matter intake
• milk yield
• Murrah buffaloes

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Director, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal for providing the necessary facilities to conduct the experiment. The research work was carried out in the project No. 2013/35/48-BRNS sanctioned by the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), Mumbai, India.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.