Effect of brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on growth, survival and immune response in Labeo rohita

Abstract

A 120-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate brewer’s yeast supplementation in the diet of juvenile Indian major carp, Labeo rohita. A basal diet was formulated to contain 30% protein and 7–8% fat. Three levels of brewer’s yeast (1, 2 and 3 g kg-1 diet) were added to the basal diet. Each diet was fed to the 3 replicate groups of juvenile Labeo rohita twice a daily @ 5% of the body weight. After the feeding trial of 120 days an Aeromonas hydrophila challenge study was conducted to test the effects of diet on disease resistance. Lysozyme activity and NBT test were carried out to assess the immune response. The weight gain %, survival %, Lysozyme activity, NBT levels and RPS were significantly higher in Labeo rohita fingerlings fed with brewer’s yeast incorporated diets than in control groups.