Impact of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Boulardii Supplementation as Probiotic on Productive Performance and Economic Efficiency of Growing Rabbits

Our study was carried out at the farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Egypt. The average temperatures were 18.4°C and 23.9 °C from December 2017 - February 2018 to study the effects of Saccharomycescerevisiaeboulardii supplementation (as feed additives) on productive performance of growing rabbits. Sixty growing rabbits of the NZW (New Zealand White Rabbits), (4 weeks old) and weighted (603.62 gm mean body weight) were randomly distributed into 4 treated groups, n=15 rabbits per each group. Rabbits of supplemented groups were given 100 (R1), 200 (R2) and 400 (R3) gm/ton feed of Saccharomyces cerevisiaeboulardii mixed in the diet for 6 successive weeks. Individual live body weight was noted weekly from start till the end of the experiment. At the end of the experimental period, 10 rabbits (from each group) were fasting for 12 hrs, then slaughtered for carcass traits measure. Experimental lighting system was 16-hours photoperiod /day (16L: 8D) through both daily natural and the artificial fluorescent lighting. A pelleted ration of 17.3% crude protein, 13.37% crude fiber and 2510 kcal of digestible energy per kg feed was offered ad libitum all the time. Results revealed significant (P≤0.05) increases in the final body weight and daily weight gain with saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation when compared with control group. Though, significantly (P≤0.05) improved feed conversion ratio in all treated groups compared with control one were noticed. Feed intake was the lower in treated groups than control group. There were significant (P≤0.05) increasing in hot carcass weight and carcass percentage with respect to the control group. Supplemented Saccharomycescerevisiae reduced (P≤0.05) the liver, heart, lungs and kidneys percentages compared the control group. Supplemented rabbit feeds with saccharomycescerevisiaeboulardii in their diets had highly increasing in relative economic efficiency and clear improvement of net revenue than control group.