Influence of Live Yeast Supplementation on Milk Yield and Quality, Hematological Parameters, and Immune Function of Crossbred Dairy Cows under Field Conditions

Abstract

The purpose of doing this study was to quantify the nutritional biotechnology of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on the milk production, milk composition, blood biochemical indices, body conditions score and the immune responses of the crossbred dairy cow housed in the condition of the farmers in the southwest of Bangladesh.

A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used to randomly distribute 16 (Holstein Friesian) lactating crossbred cows into four treatment groups of four cows per treatment group. Further these treatments comprised of T₀ (basal diet), T₁ (basal diet with live yeast supplementation: 10 gm cow^-1 day^-1), T₂ (basal diet with live yeast supplementation: 20 gm cow^-1 day^-1) and T₃ (basal diet with live yeast supplementation: 30 gm cow^-1 day^-1).Then All animals were fed on a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) with 67% roughage and 33% of concentrate (DM %). The feeding experiment was carried to three months and was undertaken under similar management conditions. The composition of milk (fat, protein, lactose, solids-not-fat, total solids, physical properties) and hematological and biochemical properties were measured at the expiry of the experiment through the assistance of the standard methods of analysis by measuring milk yield (daily) on the basis of morning and evening milk production.

Increasing the milk production and milk composition were found to have high significance when they were supplemented with live yeast (p < 0.001). The daily gain gained per kg cow^-1 day^-1 increased to 15.06kg cow^-1 day-1 on the highest dose (30 g cow^-1 day^-1) against 12.26 kg cow^-1 day^-1 in the control. The composition of the milk fat, protein, and total solids were more enhanced and had no effect on the SNF, lactose, and ash and physical characteristics of milk (density, freezing point, pH, and conductivity).Hematological parameters and blood glucose levels remained within normal physiological ranges, indicating that live yeast supplementation did not adversely affect the health status of the cows.The Body Condition Score (BCS) was observed to increase with the yeast supplementation and it was a sign of improved energy and nutrient digestion balance.

The findings indicated that graded live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation increased the parameters of milk production. The mornings, evening and total madai milk output also exhibited a gradual incremental tendency with the progressively augmenting contents of live yeast supplementation with the utmost yield being 30 g live yeast per day and live yeast is a viable and farmer-friendly feed supplement that could improve the milk production and quality in field environment without having an effect on animal condition in Bangladesh. The bio technologies can be used as cost effective and sustainable intervention in the small holder dairy system that assists in boosting milk production.

Keywords: Body Condition Score (BCS); Crossbred Dairy Cows; Live Yeast Supplementation; Milk Production; Rumen Fermentation

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