Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Supplementation on Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility in Broiler Chickens Fed Rice Bran-Based Diets

This study evaluated the effects of rice milling waste (RMW) as a partial replacement for maize, supplemented with graded levels of dietary yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. A total of 120 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments containing 0.0 g/kg (T0), 0.2 g/kg (T1), 0.4 g/kg (T2), and 0.6 g/kg (T3) of yeast. Each treatment had 30 birds, replicated three times. The trial lasted 56 days, during which body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. Birds fed 0.2 g/kg yeast (T1) recorded the highest final body weight (2080.91 g), feed intake (4510.00 g), and the most efficient FCR (2.32), compared to the control group (1948.87 g; 4420.00 g; FCR: 2.42). Nutrient digestibility improved with yeast inclusion, with crude protein digestibility peaking at 78.00% (T2), crude fiber at 48.00% (T2), and nitrogen-free extract at 80.00% (T2). The ether extract digestibility declined slightly at higher yeast levels, from 70.00% (T0) to 65.00% (T3). The optimal yeast dose for enhanced growth and nutrient utilization was 0.4 g/kg, with no adverse physiological effects observed.