Effects of dietary substitution of canola meal with yeast fermentative biomass on growth performance, blood metabolites, hematological index and serum minerals in buffalo male calves

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of yeast fermentative biomass as a protein source on blood metabolites, hematological index and serum minerals in buffalo male calves. Four iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric diets containing 2, 4, 6 and 8% yeast fermentative biomass as a protein source were formulated. Twenty buffalo male calves with approximate body weight of 230–240 kg were used. Calves were divided into four groups with five replicates each. The experiment was lasted for 100 days. First 21 days were for adjustment period while remaining time for collection period. These diets were fed to the animals ad libitum twice a day as a total mixed ration with free access to fresh water for the entire duration of the experiment. Blood samples were collected by jugular vein at the start and end of the trial, serum was harvested. Blood metabolites (blood urea nitrogen and blood glucose), hematological index and serum minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium and chloride) were analyzed. Yeast fermentative biomass had non-significant (P > 0.05) effect on the blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen, hematological index and blood serum minerals. However, serum calcium concentration significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the treatment having 8% inclusion level of yeast fermentative biomass at 100th day. It can be concluded that yeast fermentative biomass may be used as alternate protein source without any side effect on the level of blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen, hematological index and serum minerals.