EFFECTS OF SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE ON FA TTENING PIGS .1. RESULTS OFTHE FATTENING INVESTIGATION

In a trial the effect of the yeast Levucell SB20 (Saccharomyces cerevi siae, Strain SB087 I-107; Fa. Santel) on the fattening and slaughterin g performance of pigs was investigated. 48 pigs (DL x Pi) were fattene d (30-105 kg) according to the regulations of the fattening test. The three groups consisted of piglets from 8 litters, whereby 3 male castr ates and 3 females were taken from each litter. Each of the three grou ps was finally formed by selecting at random 16 piglets under the cond ition that each litter is represented by 1 male castrate and 1 female (2 pigs/pen). The three groups received basically the same diet but to the feed of group I 50 g/t (1 x 10(9) CFU/kg feed) and to the feed of group II 100 g/t (2 x 10(9) CFU/kg feed) Levucell SB20 were added. Du ring the first part of the fattening period (30-50 kg) there were no e vident differences in the daily live weight gain and feed conversion r ate in all three groups. In the second part (50-75 kg) the control gro up had a daily live weight gain of 913 g which is 10.5 g more than gro up I and 47.5 g more than group II. However, the feed conversion rates of the groups I and II were slightly better than those of the control group. In the last part of the fattening period (75-105 kg) group II (2 x 10(9) CFU/kg feed) had a daily live weight gain of 809 g and a fe ed conversion rate of 3.29. These results were significantly better th an those of the control group (704 g; 3.50) and group I (743 g; 3.62). The additional feeding of saccharomyces cerevisiae over the entire fa ttening period had no significant advantages compared with the control group. However, in groups I and II which received Levucell SB20 sligh tly positive effects could be observed in the daily live weight gain a nd in the feed conversion rate.