Performance and Condemnation Rate Analysis of Commercial Turkey Flocks Treated with a Lactobacillus spp.-Based Probiotic

Abstract

The use of defined probiotic cultures in the poultry industry has recently become more common. However, few conclusive studies regarding their efficacy under commercial conditions have been reported in the scientific literature. We conducted a study that included 118 commercial turkey hen lots, ranging from 1,542 to 30,390 hens per lot, of either Nicholas or Hybrid genetic lines, to look at the effect of a selected commercial Lactobacillus-based probiotic (FM-B11) on turkey BW, performance, and health. Sixty lots received the probiotic, whereas 58 lots were controls without probiotic. The probiotic was administered for 3 consecutive days at placement (day of age) and at move-out (around 6 wk of age, movement from brooder to grower houses). The parameters collected, calculated, and analyzed (significance level P < 0.05) were market BW, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and cost of production. There was no interaction effect between the genetic line and probiotic effect. Therefore, data from the 2 genetic lines were combined for the statistical analysis of the probiotic effect. The probiotic significantly improved market BW and average daily gain by 190 and 1.63 g, respectively. The feed conversion ratio was not statistically different between treatments (2.176 vs. 2.192 for the probiotic and control, respectively). However, the cost of production was lower in the probiotic-treated (58.37 cents/kg of live turkey) than in the control (59.90 cents/kg of live turkey) lots. Condemnation rates were not significantly different between lots. When each premise was compared by level of performance as good, fair, or poor (grouping based on historical analysis of 5 previous flocks), the probiotic appeared to increase the performance of the poor and fair farms. Use of the selected commercial probiotic resulted in increased market BW and reduced cost of production.

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.…”

Probiotics for Human and Poultry Use in the Control of Gastrointestinal Disease: A Review of Real-World Experiences

“…Published experimental and commercial studies have shown that these selected probiotic organisms are able to reduce idiopathic diarrhea in commercial turkey brooding houses [73]. Large scale commercial trials indicated that appropriate administration of this probiotic mixture to turkeys and chickens increased performance and reduced costs of production [69,74,75]. These data have clearly demonstrated that selection of therapeutically efficacious probiotic cultures with marked performance benefits in poultry is possible, and that defined cultures can sometimes provide an attractive alternative to conventional antimicrobial therapy.…”

Alternative Strategies for Salmonella Control in Poultry

“…Published experimental and commercial studies have shown that these selected probiotic organisms are able to reduce idiopathic diarrhea in commercial turkey brooding houses (S. E. . Large scale commercial trials indicated that appropriate administration of this probiotic mixture to turkeys and chickens increased performance and reduced costs of production (Torres-Rodriguez et al, 2007a;Torres-Rodriguez et al, 2007b;Vicente et al, 2007a;Vicente et al, 2007b;Vicente et al, 2007c). These data have clearly demonstrated that selection of therapeutically efficacious probiotic cultures with marked performance benefits in poultry is possible, and that defined cultures can sometimes provide an attractive alternative to conventional antimicrobial therapy (seehttp://www.pacificvetgroup.com/ for more information).…”

“…A well-characterized LAB-based probiotic has been investigated in numerous studies Torres-Rodriguez et al, 2007a;Torres-Rodriguez et al, 2007b;Vicente et al, 2007a;Vicente et al, 2007b;Vicente et al, 2007c) and has now been commercialized (Pacific Vet Group USA Inc., Fayetteville AR 72703). Struggles with speciation of the LAB isolates during development of this product illustrate the well recognized problem for speciation of LAB.…”