Evaluations of Hilyses™, fermented<i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>, on rainbow trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) growth performance, enzymatic activities and gastrointestinal structure

Abstract

This study examined the effects of Hilyses™, fermented Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), on rainbow trout growth performance, haematological parameters, digestive enzyme activities and gastrointestinal structure. Rainbow trout (mean weight 100–110 g) were fed dietary Hilyses™ (5 g kg−1) and control diet without Hilyses™ for 50 days. Results of this study demonstrated that yeast supplementation in treatment group resulted in increased feed intake, followed by improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and growth performance. Significant increases were also observed in trypsin and amylase activities in juvenile fish fed treatment diet. Light microscopy demonstrated that both groups of fish displayed normal morphology of proximal intestine and pyloric caeca. In yeast-treated group, higher density of the goblet cells per villus in the proximal intestine was shown. No effects on haematological parameters and carcass chemical composition were noted. It is therefore possible to use fermented S. cerevisiae supplementation to significantly improve the gastrointestinal structure and growth performance in rainbow trout.