The assay was carried out to evaluate feed intake, dry matter and nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, and to estimate total digestible nutrients of diets with inclusion of dry yeast (0, 25, 50, 75, 100% of DM) replacing soybean meal in diets for kid goats. Five goats were allotted in a 5 x 5 Latin square design and housed in digestibility cages. Dry matter intake and total carbohydrates were unchanged with inclusion of dry yeast; however, for organic matter, crude protein, ether extract and neutral detergent fiber, intake showed a quadratic effect. The digestibility of ether extract showed decreasing linear effect; however, for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, total carbohydrates, neutral detergent fiber and total digestible nutrients digestibility showed quadratic effects. Dry yeast can be included in feed for kid goats as a protein source without changing dry matter intake and nitrogen balance; however, including over 5.9% dry yeast in the diets reduces dry matter digestibility.
digestion; intake; nitrogen retention; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; sugar cane byproduct