Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The objective of the research was to investigate the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on some acute-phase proteins, haptoglobin and all electrophoretic parameters in young Charolaise bulls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty bulls were divided into two equal groups: the control group (CG) receiving the base diet without yeast supplementation and the diet supplementation group (YG) receiving the base diet with 5g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation. The base diet was total mixed ration allocated at 11.85 kg per animal per day. Blood samples were collected from all bulls on day 0 before the start of the diet supplementation, and on days 20 and 40 after the start. Total proteins, albumin, globulin fraction (α1-, α2-, β1-, β2- and γ-globulins), albumin: globulin ratio (A: G) and haptoglobin were determined. RESULTS: Two-way analysis of variance showed a significant effect of the yeast feeding time on all studied parameters except α2-globulins in both groups. The YG showed a higher average concentration of total proteins, albumin and A: G and a lower average concentration of γ-globulins and haptoglobin than the CG. CONCLUSION: These results indicated the beneficial effect of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the inflammatory status of the young bulls, which showed an adequate response in serum levels of the acute-phase proteins tested.