fornecimento de leveduras vivas para novilhos holandeses em confinamento com dieta 100% concentrada

Calves intended for meat production is an interesting alternative income. The objective was to evaluate the effect of providing probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the performance of Holstein steers in feedlot. The animals received 100% concentrated diet consisting of 80% of whole grain corn and 20% protein core, or without added yeast. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two treatments with eight replications. The use of probiotic did not significantly alter the feed conversion (average of 3.90 kg kg-1), consumption of daily dry matter (average 5.30 kg) and the dry matter intake per body weight (mean 2.32%). However, the daily weight gain of animals fed probiotic was higher, being 1.519 kg against 1.352 kg for the control group. The animals fed the yeast showed higher production cost of 7.14%, however, the profit margin was higher in 5.77% per animal. The use of probiotic acted effectively in improving animal performance, making it economically feasible.