Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding different levels of Brewer’s Dried Grain Yeast mixture (BDGY) on the performance of white leghorn chicks. A total of three hundred and twenty four day-old white leghorn chicks were grouped into 18 pens of 18 chicks each, and randomly assigned to six treatments (control, 6% BDGY, 12% BDGY, 18% BDGY, 24% BDGY, 30% BDGY) according to a completely randomized design (RCD). Brewer’s dried grain yeast mixture was composed of 80% brewer’s dried grain (BDG) and 20% brewer’s dried yeast (BDY). The mean dry matter intake and cost of feed per kg live weight gain did not vary (P > 0.05) among the dietary treatments. However, significantly (P < 0.01) lower daily gain and dry matter conversion ratio (P < 0.05) were obtained in chicks fed 24% BDGY and 30% BDGY than the rest of dietary treatments. Similarity in growth performance between chicks fed the control and 18% BDGY was observed. Based on this, it could be concluded that Brewer’s dried grain yeast mixture could be incorporated in chick’s rations at the level of 18% without any adverse effect on growth performance so as to increase the economic efficiency.

Key words: Brewer’s dried grain yeast, dry matter conversion ratio, dry matter intake, weight gain, economic efficiency.