Responses of addition of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) from rice distillers grains with solubles with or without trace minerals on the performance of Black Bengal kids

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae; SC) supplied from dried distillers rice grains with solubles (DGS) with or without a trace mineral mixture (TM) on the performance and nutrient utilization in Black Bengal (Capra hircus) kids. The study was designed in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with three doses of DGS with or without TM. Twenty-four kids (3–5 months age and 5.99 ± 0.76 kg initial body weight) were equally divided into six groups with four kids in each group (designated as C0, T1, T2, C1, T3, and T4). Two concentrate diets were prepared, one without TM and other with TM. Goats in C0, T1 and T2 groups were fed on the concentrate diet without TM, and 0, 15 and 20 g DGS/animal/day, respectively. Goats in C1, T3 and T4 groups were fed on the TM concentrate diet, and 0, 15 and 30 g DGS/animal/day, respectively. The DGS supplied 7 × 106 cfu SC/g. The trial lasted for 90 days. The SC supplementation improved (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and feed intake. The digestibilities of organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber increased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing doses of SC supplementation. The addition of SC did not influence serum trace mineral status. TM supplementation had no effect (P > 0.05) on ADG, intake and digestibilities of nutrients. Absorbability and retention, and serum concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe were significantly improved (P < 0.05) in all TM supplemented groups compared with non-mineral supplemented groups. It can be concluded that SC supplementation in kids may increase growth, feed intake and nutrient utilization, but TM supplementation had no influence on growth and nutrient utilization.