Growth performance, nutrient digestibility and immune response of broiler chicks fed diets supplemented with a culture of Lactobacillus bulgaricus
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Date
2008-03-31
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Publisher
Wiley online Library
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Probiotics are being developed for use in animal feed to enhance production performance and
prevention of gastrointestinal infections. The ban on using antibiotics as growth promoters, antibiotic resistance
and the inherent problems of developing new vaccines make a compelling case for developing alternatives for
in-feed antibiotics. The alternatives of choice have to be considered under the environmental conditions of the
animal. Among the probiotics in use today, Lactobacillus has been shown to play a vital role in disease prevention,
immune enhancement, improved growth and carcass yield in poultry. The present study investigates the effect
of Lactobacillus bulgaricus (LB)-based probiotic on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and immune
response of broilers under tropical environmental conditions.
RESULTS: Broilers fed LB diets consumed more feed (P < 0.05) and had greater body weight gain than the
control group. Feed/gain ratio improved significantly (P < 0.05) with the 20, 40 and 60mg kg−1 LB diets compared
with the control or 80mgkg−1 LB diet. The apparent digestibilities of nitrogen and fat increased with LB
supplementation. However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in fibre digestibility. White blood cell
count increased significantly in broilers fed higher levels (>40mgkg−1) of LB compared with the control group.
Antibody production measured as antibody titre against Newcastle disease vaccine showed a curvilinear response
over the range of LB concentrations examined.
CONCLUSION: The results indicate that LB addition to broiler chick diets significantly improved growth
performance, increased nutrient digestibility and stimulated humoral immune response.
Description
Published Journal in Animal Production
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275