Effect of dietary synbiotic supplement on behavioral patterns and growth performance of broiler chickens reared under heat stress

Abstract

This study examined the effects of a dietary synbiotic supplement on the behavioral patterns and growth performance of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress (HS). Three hundred sixty 1-day-old male Ross 708 broiler chicks were distributed among 24 floor pens (15 chicks per pen); each pen was randomly assigned to one of 3 dietary treatments containing a synbiotic at 0 (control), 0.5 (0.5X) and 1.0 (1.0X) g/kg. From d 15 to 42, birds were exposed to HS at 32°C daily from 08:00 to 17:00. Five broiler chickens were randomly marked in each pen for behavioral observation. Instantaneous scan sampling was used to record the birds' behavioral patterns. Performance parameters were measured on d 7, 14, 28 and 42. The synbiotic fed birds exhibited more standing, sitting, walking, feeding, preening and less wing spreading and panting behaviors (P < 0.05) compared to birds fed the control diet. The synbiotic group also had higher BW, BW gain and feed intake on d 7, 14 and 42 (P < 0.05), and higher BW, feed intake and feed conversion ratio at d 28 (P < 0.01). There were no treatment effects on drinking behavior, BW gain on d 28 and feed conversion ratio on d 42 (P > 0.05). There were few dose-related differences of the synbiotic on production performance; namely, the 1.0X concentration resulted in the highest BW and feed intake on d 14 and 42 (P < 0.05), while BW gain was higher compared to the control group only on d 42 (P < 0.05). The results suggest that the synbiotic supplement may prove to be an important management tool for the broiler industry to diminish the negative effects of HS, potentially safeguarding the welfare and production of broiler chickens, particularly in areas that experience hot climates.

Microstructure of the small intestine in broiler chickens fed a diet with probiotic or synbiotic supplementation

“…This suggests that supplementation with this kind of synbiotic can be used as a growth promoter. Mohammed, Jacobs, Murugesan, and Cheng () have shown that a synbiotic containing fructooligosaccharides and probiotic mixture of four microbial strains ( Lactobacillus reuteri , Enterococcus faecium , Bifidobacterium animalis and Pediococcus acidilactici ), used under heat stress condition, increased body weight, BW gain and feed intake of broilers at days 7, 14 and 42 of rearing. The beneficial effect of synbiotics on the growth of broilers was also observed by Aziz Mousavi et al (), especially in the initial weeks of rearing (0–2 weeks of age).…”

Effect of Glutamine on Antioxidant Capacity and Lipid Peroxidation in the Breast Muscle of Heat-stressed Broilers via Antioxidant Genes and HSP70 Pathway

“…Heat stress can increase body metabolism, produce large amounts of free radicals, cause lipid peroxidation, damage proteins and DNA, and lead to oxidative stress, which decreases the meat quality [2][3][4]. Due to intensive, industrial feeding and global warming, the degree of heat stress on poultry is increasing, especially in the hot and humid south in summer, which seriously restricts the development of the poultry industry [5][6][7]. Therefore, it is of great significance to find feasible methods to enhance the heat resistance of the body.…”

Broilers’ behavioural adjustments when submitted to natural heat stress and fed different maize particle sizes in the diet

“…As the air temperature approaches the broilers' body surface temperature, the sensible heat loss is hampered. Since birds do not have sweat glands (Mohammed et al, 2018), they become dependent on respiratory evaporation to dissipate excess body heat since this mechanism does not depend on a thermal gradient. According to Robertshaw (2006) and Attia et al (2006), breath is the most important thermoregulatory mechanism for the maintenance of homeothermy in hot environments.…”