Effects of yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and yeast protein concentrate on production performance of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress and challenged with Salmonella enteritidis

An experiment of 35d duration was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation (1g/kg) of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), yeast protein concentrate (YPC) and YPC-pellets on production performance of heat stressed broilers (Cobb 400, n = 128). Ambient temperature was constantly maintained at 32-34°C. At 21d, all the birds were orally challenged with Salmonella enteritidis (10×10⁷ colony forming units/ml) and the numbers of total Salmonella were enumerated in excreta at periodic intervals. Dietary supplementation of YPC and YPC pellets improved body weight at 21 and 35d of age (P=0.001) and FCR in 35d (P=0.001). Salmonella numbers decreased in the pooled digesta and excreta due to dietary supplementation of yeast and YPC additives (P