Potential use of different forms of yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae in agricultural animal diets (review)

Background. Modern animal breeding and fodder production aim to create favourable conditions and provide a balanced diet, including feed additives that positively affect the growth and development of farm animals and poultry. Yeast has gained attention due to the beneficial effects of its cellular components and biologically active compounds. Purpose. Review and analysis of scientific publications on the use of various forms of yeast, namely Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as a feed additive for farm animals and poultry. Materials and methods. To achieve the objective, we conducted a review of the scientific literature on the topic under study. This involved searching for evaluating, selecting and analyzing data. Results. This review provides a brief description of the main bioactive components of yeast cells, which are believed to be responsible for the positive effects on animal health, including improved productivity, immune response, antioxidant status, and rumen and intestinal condition. These effects are largely attributed to the ability of yeast cells to modulate the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and reducing colonisation by pathogens. Conclusion. Although there is a significant amount of data demonstrating the positive effects of yeast, contradictions exist that make it impossible to fully assess its safety for the organism. Therefore, it is not recommended for use in officially approved diets on an industrial scale until further studies have been conducted to better understand and dissect the effects and mechanisms of action of yeast and its components. EDN: GVBWDL