Comparison of the performance of starting pallets fed supplemental baker'sor feed-grade yeast in diets containing high levels of palm kernel meal

Comparison of the performance of starting pullets fed supplemental Baker's or feed-grade (Yeasacc(1026(R))) yeast culture both containing different st rains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a high-fiber diet was investigated. Ba ker's or feed-grade yeast was separately supplemented at 0.75, 1.5 and 3.0 g kg(-1) into a high-fibre diet containing 250 g kg(-1) Palm kernel meal. T he control diet had neither of the yeast supplements. Performance of puller s was determined at 3, 6 and 9 weeks of age. Overall, pullet chicks fed fee d-grade yeast consumed higher quantity of feed only at 0.75 g kg(-1) than t hose fed Bakers' yeast, and greater effect of feed-grade yeast on feed inta ke was noticed at 3 and 6 weeks of age, but not at 9 weeks of age of pullet s. Both yeast sources promoted body weight gain compared to the basal, and feed-grade yeast supported higher body weight than Baker's yeast. The effec ts of both sources of yeast on body weight gain was pronounced at 3-week on 1.5 and 3.0 g kg(-1) significantly only on 3.0 g kg(-1) at 6-week and beca me insignificant in 9-week old pullets. Feed conversion was better on feed- grade yeast than Baker's yeast and the improvement was apparently linear. I n conclusion, Baker's and feed-grade yeast enhanced the performance of star ting pullets fed high-fiber diet above the basal group, and 1.5 g kg(-1) of both supplements supported the optimal performance.