Effect of supplementation of multi‐microbe probiotic product on growth performance, apparent digestibility, cecal microbiota and small intestinal morphology of broilers

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of inclusion of multi-microbe probiotic product on growth performance, apparent digestibility of nutrients, cecal microbiota and small intestinal morphology in broilers. Four hundred days-old Ross chicks were randomly allotted to five treatments on the basis of body weight (BW). Each treatment had four replicates of 20 chicks in each. Experimental diets were fed in two phases, starter (day 0-21) and finisher (day 22-35). Dietary treatments were; basal diet without any antimicrobial (NC), basal diet added with 20 mg Avilamycin/kg of diet (PC), 10(7) cfu multi-microbe probiotic/kg of diet (P1), 10(8) cfu multi-microbe probiotic/kg of diet (P2), and 10(9) cfu multi-microbe probiotic/kg of diet (P3). Overall BW gain and feed conversion ratio were better (p < 0.05) for treatments PC, P2 and P3 compared with NC and P1, with P1 being better (p < 0.05) than NC. Overall feed intake in treatments PC, P1, P2 and P3 were greater (p < 0.05) than NC. Apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein were greater (p < 0.05) in treatments PC, P2 and P3 compared with NC, with P1 being intermediate and not different form NC, PC, P2 and P3. At d 21 and 35, treatments PC, P1, P2 and P3 showed lower (p < 0.05) cecal Clostridium and Coliforms count in relation to NC. Moreover, cecal Clostridium (d 21) and Coliforms (d 21 and 35) count were lower (p < 0.05) in treatment PC in relation to P1; with P2 and P3 being intermediate and not different from PC. However, there was no effect of dietary treatments on cecal total anaerobic bacteria and Bifidobacterium spp. count. The villus height of duodenum in treatment PC was greater (p < 0.05) than NC, with P1, P2 and P3 being intermediate. Villus height of ileum in treatment PC was greater (p < 0.05) than in treatments P1 and NC, whereas it remained comparable among treatments PC, P2 and P3. Villus height to crypt depth ratio of ileum was greater (p < 0.05) for treatment PC, P2 and P3 compared with that in P1 and NC. It is concluded that multi-microbe probiotic inclusion at 10(8) and 10(9) cfu/kg diet had beneficial effects on broilers growth performance, apparent digestibility of nutrients and intestinal morphology and can be used as replacement to antibiotics growth promoter in broiler nutrition.

Bacteriophage cocktail and multi-strain probiotics in the feed for weanling pigs: effects on intestine morphology and targeted intestinal coliforms and Clostridium

“…However, there were no additional beneficial effects of combining bacteriophages and probiotics. Previous studies in our laboratory on pigs and broiler reported improved intestinal morphology with dietary supplementation with fermented probiotics product (Choi et al, 2011a and2011b;Kim et al, 2012). Mourao et al (2005) reported that a decreased number of pathogenic bacteria in the gut may improve proliferation of epithelial cells to build villus and thus enhance intestinal morphology.…”

“…Recently, it has been reported that supplementation with bacteriophages resulted in improved growth performance and gut health of growing pigs (Yan et al, 2012;Kim et al 2014b). Previous studies in the author's laboratory reported that the multimicrobial probiotic products had potential to improve the performance and gut health, and could be used as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in pigs and broilers (Choi et al, 2011b;Kim et al, 2012). Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with bacteriophage and also its combination with fermented probiotic product on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal and fecal microbiota and intestinal morphology of weanling pigs.…”

The Impact of Probiotics on the Gastrointestinal Physiology

“…Awad et al (2010) have reported that villus height to crypt depth ratio increased in duodenum and ileum of chicks supplemented with Lactobacillus sp. Similarly, supplementation of multi-microbe probiotic product has been reported to cause increased villus height to crypt depth ratio in duodenum and ileum (Kim et al, 2011). It has been indicated that, increased villus height to crypt depth ratio are directly correlated with an increased epithelial turnover (Fan et al, 1997).…”

A direct fed microbial containing a combination of three-strain Bacillus sp. can be used as an alternative to feed antibiotic growth promoters in broiler production

“…It has been reported that the use of a DFM containing Bacillus spp. has a positive effect on the performance and immune system of broiler chicks (Teo and Tan, 2007;Kim et al, 2012;Amerah et al, 2013a). Timmerman et al (2006) observed that chicken specific DFM preparations reduced mortality in broilers.…”