Effects ofEnterococcus faeciumand dried whey on broiler performance, gut histomorphology and intestinal microbiota

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to study the effects of supplementing a broiler starter diet with the probiotic Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 and dried whey (80% lactose) on chick performance, gut histomorphology and intestinal microbiota. One-day-old male Ross 308 strain broiler chickens were fed diets containing: (i) control feed, (ii) control + 3.5% dried whey, (iii) control + 0.2% E. faecium, and (iv) control + 3.5% dried whey + 0.2% E. faecium. Birds were maintained in battery brooders confined in an environmentally controlled experimental room. The experiment lasted for 21 days. Birds fed E. faecium or E. faecium + dried whey exhibited significantly improved weight gain and feed conversion rate (FCR). Weight gain and FCR of treatment groups 1-4 were 628.7, 657.8, 690.9, 689.3 and 1.218, 1.193, 1.107, 1.116, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria counts in both the ileal content and excreta were significantly affected by dietary treatment. Supplementation of the E. faecium and dried whey separately and in combination increased lactic acid bacteria colonization in the ileal content from 4.2 to 5.0, 7.8 and to 5.1 log cfu/g, respectively (treatments 1-4). Similarly, supplementation of dried whey and E. faecium separately and in combination increased lactic acid bacteria in the excreta from 5.3 to 5.5, 8.0 and to 7.2 log cfu/g, respectively. Addition of the probiotic E. faecium increased villus height in the ileum (p < 0.05). Thus, supplementation of E. faecium enhanced broiler chick performance with respect to weight gain and FCR. No additive effect of E. faecium and dried whey was detected. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between E. faecium and dried whey with respect to gut histomorphology.

Comparison of Two Products of Direct-Fed Microbial Supplementation on the Nutrient Utilization and Ruminal Fermentation in Sheep

“…On the other hand, Szasz, (2002), Ware and Zinn (2005) reported that Fibrozyme inclusion to the steers or heifer's diets increased total tract digestibility of NDF and ADF and increased DMI and average daily gain. Few workers concluded improved feed intake, feed conversion rate, daily weight gain and total body weight in sheep, goat and cattle on administration of DFM (Torres-Rodriguez et al, 2007;Samli et al, 2007;Casey et al, 2007). Improvement from DFM supplementation could be anticipated due to positive effects on various digestive processes, especially cellulolysis, synthesis of microbial protein, stabilizers of ruminal pH and lactate, increased absorption of some nutrients and displayed a growth-promoting effect.…”

Effects of probiotic dietary supplementation on diarrhoea patterns, faecal microbiota and performance of early weaned calves

“…The use of probiotics is expected to improve BW gain, feed conversion and health of livestock because probiotics promote the establishment of a beneficial gut flora and inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine. Many researchers have studied the use of lactobacilli and streptococci as probiotics (Fuler, 1989), especially enteroccocus probiotics (Fleige et al, 2007;Samli et al, 2007Vahjen et al, 2007. Some probiotic compounds are claimed to have formulae designed to provide suitable conditions in the alimentary tract so as to minimize the incidence of diarrhoea, therefore effecting improvements in body weight gain, body height and general health condition.…”

Effect of Chicory and Inulin Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Analysis and Intestinal Microbial Population in Japanese Quail (Coturnix Japonica).

“…It has been shown that increased lactate concentration often decreases intestine pH and is a potent anti-microbial substance to several pathogenic species such as E. coli (Samli et al, 2007). The Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus colonizing the intestine have been reported to deliver enzymes, thus increasing the intestine digestive enzyme activity (Sissons, 1989).…”