Live yeast cells in nutrition of monogastric animals

Abstract

Yeast and yeast derivatives are used as nutrients and as feed additives. Live yeast cells (LYC) (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) belong to a group of potent microorganisms that are used as an additive in animal feed and represent an alternative to antibiotics that until recently were used in animal nutrition as growth stimulators. The role of yeast as a growth promoter is due mainly to mannanoligosaccharide and β‑glucans, isolated from the outer cell wall of yeast, whose role is known in stimulating the body’s immune response. Dietary supplementation with whole yeast or yeast cell wall at 1.0–1.5 g/kg can improve growth performance, improve digestion and absorption of nutrients by modulating gut structure, inhibiting pathogenic bacteria and lowering gut pH.