The effect of feeding different levels of brewers dried grain yeast mixture on the performance of white leghorn chicks

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.