Effects of monospecies and multispecies probiotics on productive performance, intestinal histomorphological parameters and immune response in broilers

Abstract EN

An experiment was carried out to test the hypothesis that supplementation of broilers with the probiotics ; Lactobacillus acidophilus (Lactolife-Av), Lactobacillus acidophilus plus Pichia anomala yeast (Lactolife-Av+) or Lactobacillus acidophilus plus Pichia anomala plus Bacteriophage (Lactolife-Av+B), in water, has beneficial effects on productive performance, intestinal histomorphology and immune response.

Six hundred one-day-old male Arbor Acres Plus broiler chicks were assigned at random to four experimental groups, 6 replicates for each.

Birds of group 1 received Lactolife-Av, birds of group 2 received Lactolife-Av+, and birds of group 3 received Lactolife-Av + B, in a dosage of 104 CFU/bird in drinking water at the 1st and the 10th days of age.

Chickens of group 4 (control group) received plain water without treatment.

The obtained results indicated that productive performance of the probiotic treated groups was improved their during the entire experimental period (35 days), as compared to the control group.

These results were manifested through ; significant increase in final body weight (ranging from 64-85 g / bird), decreased feed intake (ranging from 55-105 g / bird), significant improvement in final feed conversion ratio (ranging from 8-15 points), and significant decrease in total mortality rates (2.67–4.67 %).

At the end of experimental period, the three treated groups had similar production numbers (from 299 to 310.6), with significant superiority over the control birds (263.4).

However, No significant effects due to supplementation with probiotics were observed on carcass characteristics.

Also, there were significant increases in intestinal length and diameter, in treated birds.

The ileum histomorphology revealed that Villus height and ratio of villus height / crypt depth were significantly greater in all probiotic treated groups than in the control birds.

No significant differences were found in crypt depth among the 4 groups.

However, the significantly highest villus height and villus height / crypt depth ratio were those of the Lactolife-Av+ treated birds.

Moreover, the HI titers against ND vaccine, at 4 and 5 weeks of age, showed significant increase in the probiotics groups as compared to the control birds.

It can be concluded that the three probiotics used in the present study are capable of improving broiler performance and stimulating the immune system, and could be used as natural and safe growth promoters.