The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of chromium (Cr) and yeast individually and in-combination on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and plane of nutrition in Deccani sheep. Thirty-six adult Deccani rams of 2-3 yrs of age with an average body weight of 27.68±1.08 kg were randomly divided into 6 groups consisting of 6 animals each in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were as follows: 1. Control: Basal diet (BD) without any supplement, 2. 0.5 Cr: BD + 0.5 ppm Cr supplementation, 3. 1 Cr: BD + 1.0 ppm Cr supplementation, 4. Y: BD + Yeast supplementation (5×109 CFU/kg feed), 5. 0.5Cr+Y: BD+ 0.5 ppm Cr + Yeast supplementation (5×109 CFU/kg feed), and 6. 1Cr + Y: BD + 1.0 ppm Cr + Yeast supplementation (5×109 CFU/kg feed). A metabolism trial was carried out for 5 days after adapting the rams in cages for two days. During metabolic trial period, daily feed offered, feed residue left, fecal and urine output for 24 h were recorded. Body weight and feed intake were similar (P>0.05) among the six experimental groups. The result suggested that Cr supplementation alone did not have significant effect on digestibility coefficient (%) of proximate and cell wall constituents, nitrogen balance and nutrient intake of adult sheep. Significantly (P<0.05 or <0.01) higher nutrient (Dry matter, Organic matter, Crude protein, Crude fibre and Cellulose) digestibility coefficients were observed in Y, 0.5Cr+Y and 1Cr+Y. Though there was no significant (P>0.05) effect was not observed in nitrogen balance and nutrient intake, but Y, 0.5Cr+Y and 1Cr+Y showed numerically higher nitrogen balance than control. It could be concluded that, individual Cr supplementation had no effect on nutrient intake and utilization. However, improvement in nutrient utilization and nutrient intake observed with supplementation of yeast with or without Cr in Deccani sheep.

Background: Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), widely used probiotics, was found to increase the utilization of fiber and improve the production in ruminants. The concept of chromium (Cr) supplementation has also received a great deal of attention since past decade, as Cr could have supra-physiological benefits for domestic livestock. The present in vitro experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary chromium and yeast supplementation on in-vitro dry matter degradability and rumen fermentation by rumen simulation technique. Methods: The yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (Y) (5 x 109 CFU /kg) and chromium (Cr) (1.5 mg/kg) supplementation to sorghum stover based complete diets (Basal diet: 10.58% CP) either alone or in combination on in vitro nutrient degradability and rumen fermentation was assessed by rumen simulation technique. Result: Chromium supplementation alone did not affect the cumulative degradability and effective dry matter degradability in vitro compared to BD. Yeast supplementation enhanced (P less than 0.01) in vitro DM degradability on 12, 24 and 48 h, effective DM degradability and lowered (P less than 0.01) ammonia nitrogen level in comparison to control. When compared to control, combination of yeast and Cr positively affected rumen fermentation pattern and in vitro nutrient degradability but no further improvement was observed compared to only yeast supplementation in diet.