Effects of Clostridium butyricum as an Antibiotic Alternative on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Serum Biochemical Response, and Immunity of Broilers

Abstract

The current study aimed to investigate the effects of Clostridium butyiricum on growth performance, intestinal morphology, serum biochemical response, and immunity in broiler chickens. A total of 330 commercial one-day-old, mixed-sex Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into five treatment groups with six replicates per group. The broilers were fed the basal diet (CON), the basal diet with 150 mg/kg of aureomycin (AM), the basal diet with C. butyricum at 2 × 108 CFU/kg (CBL), the basal diet with C. butyricum at 4 × 108 CFU/kg (CBM), and the basal diet with C. butyricum at 8 × 108 CFU/kg (CBH). Results showed that the final body weight (BW) (p < 0.01; p < 0.05), ADG from day 22 to 39 (p < 0.05), and ADG from day 1 to 39 (p < 0.01; p < 0.05) were improved in a linear and quadratic response with the inclusion of C. butyricum. There were no differences in feed conversion rate (FCR) among all groups (p > 0.05). Supplementation with C. butyricum quadratically reduced the crypt depth at day 21 (p < 0.01), linearly improved the villus height in the jejunum at day 39 (p < 0.001), and linearly and quadratically increased the villus height to crypt depth (V/C) ratio in the jejunum at day 21 (p < 0.01) and day 39 (p < 0.01; p < 0.001). Dietary C. butyricum affected the thymus index at day 21 and day 39 (linear, p < 0.01), and the bursa of Fabricius index at day 39 (quadratic, p < 0.05). Compared to the AM group, the serum urea contents were decreased (p < 0.05) but the IgG contents were increased in the CBL and CBH groups at day 21 (p < 0.01); in addition, serum albumin (ALB) concentrations in all the C. butyricum-supplemented groups (p < 0.01) and IgG concentrations in the CBM group were augmented at day 39 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary C. butyricum could enhance growth performance by improving jejunal morphology and stimulating immunity organ development in broilers, and could be an alternative to antibiotics in poultry feeds.

Dietary Replacement of Soybean Meal with Zanthoxylum bungeanum Seed Meal on Growth Performance, Blood Parameters, and Nutrient Utilization in Broiler Chickens

“…Alterations in serum parameters signify variations in the body's metabolic and biochemical processes [35]. Serum proteins and their associated metabolic indicators, including total protein, albumin, globulin, and urea nitrogen, are commonly associated with protein absorption and metabolism [36]. In the experiment, the utilization of ZBM instead of soybean meal resulted in increased levels of albumin and globulin in serum.…”

Effects of Adding Sphingomonas Z392 to Drinking Water on Growth Performance, Intestinal Histological Structure and Microbial Community of Broiler Chickens

“…This significantly improved the digestive and decomposition ability of the ileum, facilitating further absorption of nutrients in the ileum. Lactobacillus and Clostridium butyricum also significantly affect the growth, development, and feed utilization of broiler chickens by regulating small intestinal VH and CD [6,42,43].…”

Probiotic Roles of Clostridium butyricum in Piglets: Considering Aspects of Intestinal Barrier Function

“…Clostridium butyricum, a new bioviable bacterial preparation, can activate the immune system of the host and enhance immune function, thereby maintaining animal health [75][76][77]. In piglets, C. butyricum can directly stimulate the intestinal mucosal immune response and improve immune barrier function [48,51].…”