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Abstract
This study investigated the effects of dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) supplementation on testosterone, serum biochemistry, haematology, growth performance, and organ development in ISA Brown cockerels. Fifteen cockerels (six weeks old, 200–300 g) were randomly assigned to three groups designated A, B and C (n=5). Group A served as the control while groups B and C received 5 g/kg and 10 g/kg of SC respectively. Birds were fed standard grower mash for six weeks under uniform conditions. Testosterone was analyzed using a commercial (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit, while serum biochemistry was assessed with an automated analyzer. Feed and water intake were monitored, and body weight was recorded weekly. Testosterone level was significantly higher (p<0.05) in group B. Supplemented groups showed improved urea levels and electrolyte profiles; however, group C had elevated creatinine and AST levels. Platelet counts increased significantly with dosage, while other haematological parameters remained unaffected. Feed intake and weight gain were significantly higher in group C from week 2 to 4 and from week 3 onward, respectively. Testicular weights increased in both supplemented groups, with the highest values in group C. In conclusion, SC supplementation at 5 g/kg improved testosterone level and physiological status, while 10 g/kg enhanced growth and testicular development but may induce metabolic strain. These findings highlight the importance of dose optimization to balance performance benefits with animal health.
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- Hernández, F., Madrid, J., García, V. and Orengo, J. (2009). Influence of dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on feed intake and growth performance in broiler chickens. Poult. Sci., 88(9): 1733–1740.
- Hossain, M., Das, A. K., Talukder, K., Hossen, M. M., Das, K., Bormon, C., Ahmed, M., Al Mamun, M., AbujarShuva, M., Azzam, M. and Mahfuz, S. (2025). Supplementation of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as natural feed additives on growth performance, meat quality, and physiological status of broiler chickens. J. Appl. Poult. Res., 34(3): 100542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2025.100542
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- Mohammadi, H., Khosravinia, H. and Shariatmadari, F. (2020). Influence of yeast supplementation on performance, blood parameters, and nitrogen metabolism in laying hens. Poult. Sci., 99(5): 2447–2453.
- Olugbemi, T. S., Mutayoba, S. K., and Lekule, F. P. (2010). Effect of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) inclusion in cassava-based diets fed to broiler chickens. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 9(4): 363–367. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2010.363.367
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- Shehzadi, A., Bibi, Z., Sarwar, M. Q., Ullah, A., Rehman, A. and Bukhari, D. A. (2023). Effect of probiotics on hematological parameters of male and female Wistar rats. Saudi J. Biol. Sci., 30(10): 103794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103794
- Smith, A. B., Johnson, C. D. and Williams, E. F. (2020). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on reproductive health and testosterone regulation. J. Endocrinol. Reprod. Biol., 45(2): 123–135.
- Thomas, S., Rezoagli, E., Abidin, I. Z., Major, I., Murray, P. and Murphy, E. J. (2022). β-Glucans from yeast—Immunomodulators from novel waste resources. Appl. Sci., 12(10): 5208. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12105208
- Veldhuis, J. D. and Loriaux, D. L. (1995). The neuroendocrine regulation of gonadal function. Endocr. Rev., 16(3): 475–489.
- Yan, L., Liu, J., Chen, R., Lei, M., Guo, B., Chen, Z., Dai, Z. and Zhu, H. (2025). Reproductive characteristics and methods to improve reproductive performance in goose production: A systematic review. Poult. Sci., 104(6): 105099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2025.105099
- Yin, Y., Liu, Z. and Xu, Z. (2010). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on nutrient utilization and gut microbiota in poultry. Poult. Sci., 89(8): 1603–1610.
- Zhang, X., Wang, Y. and Li, Y. (2014). The effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on hepatic and renal function in poultry. J. Anim. Sci., 92(4): 1470–1480.
- Zhu, X., Tao, L., Liu, H. and Yang, G. (2023). Effects of fermented feed on growth performance, immune organ indices, serum biochemical parameters, cecal odorous compound production, and the microbiota community in broilers. Poult. Sci., 102(6): 102629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.102629.
References
Agbonu, O. A. and Aka, L. O. (2016). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on some production parameters and forage fractions digestibility in West African Dwarf sheep fed Panicum maximum and Centrosema pubescens. J. Vet. Appl. Sci., 6(1): 20–29.
Agbonu, O. A., Aka, L. O. and Nweze, E. C. (2016). In vivo enteric methane mitigation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae in West African Dwarf sheep fed Panicum maximum and Centrosema pubescens. J. Vet. Appl. Sci., 6(1): 12–19.
Ahiwe, E. U., Tedeschi Dos Santos, T. T., Graham, H. and Iji, P. A. (2021). Can probiotic or prebiotic yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) serve as alternatives to in-feed antibiotics for healthy or disease-challenged broiler chickens? A review. J. Appl. Poult. Res., 30(3): 100164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2021.100164
Amenyogbe, E., Droepenu, E. K., Ayisi, C. L., Boamah, G. A., Duker, R. Q., Abarike, E. D. and Huang, J. (2024). Impact of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense in fish farming: Current insights and future perspectives. Front. Mar. Sci., 11: 1368436. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1368436
Amoah, K., Tan, B., Zhang, S., Chi, S., Yang, Q., Liu, H., Yang, Y., Zhang, H. and Dong, X. (2023). Host gut-derived Bacillus probiotics supplementation improves growth performance, serum and liver immunity, gut health, and resistive capacity against Vibrio harveyi infection in hybrid grouper. Anim. Nutr., 14: 163–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2023.05.005
Calabrese, E. J. and Baldwin, L. A. (2001). Hormesis: U-shaped dose-responses and their centrality in toxicology. Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 22(6): 285–291.
Das, T. K., Pradhan, S., Chakrabarti, S., Mondal, K. C. and Ghosh, K. (2022). Current status of probiotic and related health benefits. Appl. Food Res., 2(2): 100185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afres.2022.100185
Ekanem, N. J., Afolabi, K. D., Elijah, N. A., Simeon, U. U., and Edem, B. P. (2024). Growth performance of ISA-Brown cockerels fed varying dietary protein levels. Niger. J. Anim. Prod., 51(1): 951–954. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.6459
Fouad, A. M., El-Senousey, H. K., Ruan, D., Xia, W., Chen, W., Wang, S. and Zheng, C. (2020). Nutritional modulation of fertility in male poultry. Poult. Sci., 99(11): 5637–5646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2020.06.083
Gao, J., Zhang, H. J., Yu, S. H., Wu, S. G., Yoon, I., Quigley, J., Gao, Y. P. and Qi, G. H. (2008). Effects of yeast culture in broiler diets on performance and immunomodulatory functions. Poult. Sci., 87(7): 1377–1384. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2007-00428
Hernández, F., Madrid, J., García, V. and Orengo, J. (2009). Influence of dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on feed intake and growth performance in broiler chickens. Poult. Sci., 88(9): 1733–1740.
Hossain, M., Das, A. K., Talukder, K., Hossen, M. M., Das, K., Bormon, C., Ahmed, M., Al Mamun, M., AbujarShuva, M., Azzam, M. and Mahfuz, S. (2025). Supplementation of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as natural feed additives on growth performance, meat quality, and physiological status of broiler chickens. J. Appl. Poult. Res., 34(3): 100542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2025.100542
Kluge, H., Hennig, S. and Eder, K. (2006). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on performance and health of poultry. Poult. Sci., 85(1): 5–16.
Kumar, V., Vyas, A. and Patel, R. (2019). Effect of high-dose supplementation on gonadal steroid hormones in poultry. Poult. Sci., 98(2): 349–357.
Lawrence-Azua, O. O., Awe, A. O., Saka, A. A., Okotie, U. J., Awodele, O. A. and Isegbe, E. I. (2018). Effect of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on the growth performance, haematological, and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Niger. J. Anim. Sci., 20(1): 191–199.
Lin, J., Comi, M., Perricone, V., Agazzi, A., Qiu, K., Wang, J., Wu, S., Qi, G. and Zhang, H. (2023). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae hydrolysate on growth performance, immunity function, and intestinal health in broilers. Poult. Sci., 102(1): 02237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.102237
Liu, X., Zhang, L. and Wang, J. (2016). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on feed intake and nutrient metabolism in poultry. J. Anim. Sci. Biotechnol., 7(1): 24–31.
Mohammadi, H., Khosravinia, H. and Shariatmadari, F. (2020). Influence of yeast supplementation on performance, blood parameters, and nitrogen metabolism in laying hens. Poult. Sci., 99(5): 2447–2453.
Olugbemi, T. S., Mutayoba, S. K., and Lekule, F. P. (2010). Effect of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) inclusion in cassava-based diets fed to broiler chickens. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 9(4): 363–367. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2010.363.367
Sellers, R. S., Morton, D., Michael, B., Roome, N., Johnson, J. K., Yano, B. L., Perry, R., and Schafer, K. (2007). Society of Toxicologic Pathology position paper: Organ weight recommendations for toxicology studies. Toxicol. Pathol., 35(5): 751–755. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926230701595300
Sharma, S., Gupta, P., and Kumar, A. (2017). Role of supplementation in poultry endocrinology: A review. Poult. Sci. J., 22(4): 104–110.
Shehzadi, A., Bibi, Z., Sarwar, M. Q., Ullah, A., Rehman, A. and Bukhari, D. A. (2023). Effect of probiotics on hematological parameters of male and female Wistar rats. Saudi J. Biol. Sci., 30(10): 103794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103794
Smith, A. B., Johnson, C. D. and Williams, E. F. (2020). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on reproductive health and testosterone regulation. J. Endocrinol. Reprod. Biol., 45(2): 123–135.
Thomas, S., Rezoagli, E., Abidin, I. Z., Major, I., Murray, P. and Murphy, E. J. (2022). β-Glucans from yeast—Immunomodulators from novel waste resources. Appl. Sci., 12(10): 5208. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12105208
Veldhuis, J. D. and Loriaux, D. L. (1995). The neuroendocrine regulation of gonadal function. Endocr. Rev., 16(3): 475–489.
Yan, L., Liu, J., Chen, R., Lei, M., Guo, B., Chen, Z., Dai, Z. and Zhu, H. (2025). Reproductive characteristics and methods to improve reproductive performance in goose production: A systematic review. Poult. Sci., 104(6): 105099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2025.105099
Yin, Y., Liu, Z. and Xu, Z. (2010). Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on nutrient utilization and gut microbiota in poultry. Poult. Sci., 89(8): 1603–1610.
Zhang, X., Wang, Y. and Li, Y. (2014). The effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on hepatic and renal function in poultry. J. Anim. Sci., 92(4): 1470–1480.
Zhu, X., Tao, L., Liu, H. and Yang, G. (2023). Effects of fermented feed on growth performance, immune organ indices, serum biochemical parameters, cecal odorous compound production, and the microbiota community in broilers. Poult. Sci., 102(6): 102629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.102629.