This study aims to investigate the effect of feeding mash (T1) or pelleted (T2)
diets supplemented with a pure broth culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth
performance and metabolic activity of New Zealand White rabbits (NZW). Two trials
were conducted using 42 NZW rabbits (18 in T1 and 24 in T2, respectively) of 6
weeks-old with 1.16 kg average live body weight. The treated diets were composed of
the same ingredients of basal diet (~O) supplemented with 25% (01) or 50% (02)
yeast culture (VIW) in mash form of T1. The diets composed in pelleted form were the
control (POO) +10% wheat bran 0NB) as (03), POO +20% WB as (04), POO +10%
yeast-loaded WB, as (05) and POO +20% yeast-loaded WB as (06). The total counts
of Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture in the treated diets 01, 02, 05 and 06 were
7 .Ox1 0⁶ and 1.4x1 0⁷ , 1.4x1 0⁶ and 2.8x10⁶ I ml, respectively. Growth traits and efficiency of feed utilization were superior in treated groups of
T2 over those of T1. Yeast culture treated diets realized a significant increase
(P<0.05) in daily weight gain and exhibited higher efficiency of feed utilization than
untreated groups. Feed conversion and economic efficiency were optimized for 02
and 06 groups. Estimates of total blood proteins or its fractions did not show any obvious
changes due to type of ration. Feeding rabbits on the mash diet resulted in a
significant (P < 0.05) elevation of blood glucose, increased activity of alkaline
phosphatase, while significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the transaminases activity.
Concentrations of blood total protein, albumin and creatinine were the minimum when
feeding the rabbits on the basal diet {~O). Yeast culture treatments increased
significantly (P < 0.05) the blood content of total protein, albumin, blood urea nitrogen,
glucose and the activity of alkaline phosphatase. Group 06 had greater content (P <
0.05) of albumin and blood urea nitrogen as well as higher transaminases activity in
comparison with other groups. It could be concluded that application of
Saccharmoyces cereviciae have a vital role in improving nutritive value of rabbits diet
hence promoting their metabolic activity and growth rate.