The Effects of Various Feed Forms and Dietary Supplements (Probiotic and Antibiotic) on Performance, Immune System, Cecal Microbiota, and Intestinal Morphology in Broiler Chickens

Document Type : Original Paper

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Higher Education Complex of Saravan, Saravan, Sistan and Baluchestan, 99516-34145, Iran

2 Animal Science Research Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feed form (FF) and dietary supplements on performance, immune system, cecal microflora, and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens. A total of 960 one-day-old Ross 308 mixed-sex chickens were distributed to 8 treatments consisting of 6 replicates (20 birds/pen). The experimental design was a 2×4 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating two feed forms (mash or pellet) and dietary supplements [without a supplement, Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus), Bacillus subtilus (B. subtilus), and Avilamycin (an antibiotic)]. Considering the main effects, dietary supplements and pellet diets significantly improved growth performance parameters (FI, BWG, and FCR) compared to the other treatments. Birds fed with a pellet diet had a reduced relative weight of the gizzard and pancreas, increased villus height, and gained the relative weight of the liver and small intestinal. Regardless of the FF, B. subtilis supplementation tended to greater villus height, lower crypt depth, and higher villus height to crypt depth ratio compared to other groups. Birds fed with mash diets supplemented with L. acidophilus and B. subtilis and a pelleted diet supplemented B. subtilis had higher villus height, goblet cell, and Lactobacillus population in the gut compared to the other treatments. Probiotics supplementation reduced the percentage of heterophils compared to other diets. The significant interaction between FF and dietary supplements showed that L. acidophilus in the mash diet tended to enhance the percentage of lymphocytes and reduce the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio compared to the pelleted diet. The main factors had no significant effect on anti-SRBC antibody titer. The results from this study indicated that the probiotic L. acidophilus and B. subtilis used in the mash diet may serve as alternatives to an antibiotic.

Keywords

References

Abadi MHMG, Moravej H, Shivazad M, Torshizi MAK & Kim WK. 2019. Effects of feed form and particle size, and pellet binder on performance, digestive tract parameters, intestinal morphology, and cecal microflora populations in broilers. Poultry Science, 98: 1432-1440. DOI: 10.3382/ps/pey488
Abd El-Moneim A & Sabic E. 2019. The beneficial effect of feeding olive pulp and Aspergillus awamori on productive performance, egg quality, serum/yolk cholesterol, and oxidative status in laying Japanese quails. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences, 28: 52-61. DOI:  10.22358/jafs/105537/2019
Abdollahi M, Ravindran V, Wester T, Ravindran G & Thomas D. 2010. Influence of conditioning temperature on performance, apparent metabolizable energy, ileal digestibility of starch and nitrogen, and the quality of pellets, in broiler starters, fed maize-and sorghum-based diets. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 162: 106-115. DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2011.03.014
Abudabos AM, Alyemni AH, Dafalla YM & Khan RU. 2017. Effect of organic acid blend and Bacillus subtilis alone or in combination on growth traits, blood biochemical, and antioxidant status in broilers exposed to Salmonella typhimurium challenge during the starter phase. Journal of Applied Animal Research, 45: 538-542. DOI: 10.1080/09712119.2016.1219665
Abudabos AM, Ali MH, Nassan MA & Saleh AA. 2019. Ameliorative effect of Bacillus subtilis on growth performance and intestinal architecture in broiler infected with Salmonella. Animals, 9: 190. DOI: 10.3390/ani9040190
Amerah A, Ravindran V, Lentle R & Thomas D. 2007. Feed particle size: Implications on the digestion and performance of poultry. World's Poultry Science Journal, 63: 439-455. DOI: 10.1017/S0043933907001560
Amerah A, Ravindran V, Lentle R & Thomas D. 2008. Influence of feed particle size on the performance, energy utilization, digestive tract development, and digesta parameters of broiler starters fed wheat-and corn-based diets. Poultry Science, 87: 2320-2328. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2008-00149
Amerah A, Quiles A, Medel P, Sánchez J, Lehtinen M & Gracia M. 2013. Effect of pelleting temperature and probiotic supplementation on growth performance and immune function of broilers fed maize/soy-based diets. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 180: 55-63. DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2013.01.002
Awad W, Ghareeb K, Abdel-Raheem S & Böhm J. 2009. Effects of dietary inclusion of probiotic and synbiotic on growth performance, organ weights, and intestinal histomorphology of broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 88: 49-56. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2008-00244
Bai S, Wu A, Ding X, Lei Y, Bai J, Zhang K & Chio J. 2013. Effects of probiotic-supplemented diets on growth performance and intestinal immune characteristics of broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 92: 663-670. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2012-02813
Castanon J. 2007. History of the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in European poultry feeds. Poultry Science, 86: 2466-2471. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2007-00249
Cavazzoni V, Adami A & Castrovilli C. 1998. Performance of broiler chickens supplemented with Bacillus coagulans as probiotic. British Poultry Science, 39: 526-529. DOI: 10.1080/00071669888719
Chewning C, Stark C & Brake J. 2012. Effects of particle size and feed form on broiler performance. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 21: 830-837. DOI: 10.3382/japr.2012-00553
Cutting SM. 2011. Bacillus probiotics. Food Microbiology, 28: 214-220. DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2010.03.007
Darabighane B & Nahashon SN. 2014. A review on effects of Aloe vera as a feed additive in broiler chicken diets. Annals of Animal Science, 14: 491-500. DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2014-0026
Dibner J & Richards J. 2005. Antibiotic growth promoters in agriculture: history and mode of action. Poultry Science, 84: 634-643. DOI: 10.1093/ps/84.4.634
Dozier WA, Behnke KC, Gehring CK & Branton SL. 2010. Effects of feed form on growth performance and processing yields of broiler chickens during a 42-day production period. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 19: 219-226. DOI: 10.3382/japr.2010-00156
El-Moneim AE-MEA, El-Wardany I, Abu-Taleb AM, Wakwak MM, Ebeid TA & Saleh AA. 2020. Assessment of in ovo administration of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum on performance, ileal histomorphometry, blood hematological, and biochemical parameters of broilers. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 12: 439-450. DOI: 10.1007/s12602-019-09549-2
Engberg R, Hedemann M & Jensen B. 2002. The influence of grinding and pelleting of feed on the microbial composition and activity in the digestive tract of broiler chickens. British Poultry Science, 43: 569-579. DOI: 10.1080/0007166022000004480
Fasina Y, Hoerr F, McKee S & Conner D. 2010. Influence of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection on intestinal goblet cells and villous morphology in broiler chicks. Avian Diseases, 54: 841-847. DOI: 10.1637/9055-090809-Reg.1
Forte C, Acuti G, Manuali E, Proietti PC, Pavone S, Trabalza-Marinucci M, Moscati L, Onofri A, Lorenzetti C & Franciosini MP. 2016. Effects of two different probiotics on microflora, morphology, and morphometry of gut in organic laying hens. Poultry Science, 95: 2528-2535. DOI: 10.3382/ps/pew164
Fuller R. 1989. Probiotics in man and animals. The Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 66: 365-378.
Gao Z, Wu H, Shi L, Zhang X, Sheng R, Yin F & Gooneratne R. 2017. Study of Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, nutrition metabolism and intestinal microflora of 1 to 42 d broiler chickens. Animal Nutrition, 3: 109-113. DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2017.02.002 
Grujović M, Mladenović K, Nikodijević D & Čomić L. 2019. Autochthonous lactic acid bacteria—presentation of potential probiotics application. Biotechnology Letters, 41. DOI: 10.1007/s10529-019-02729-8
Hosseini S, Chamani M, Mousavi S, Hosseini S & Sadeghi A. 2017. Effects of dietary physical form and dietary inclusion of probiotics and enzymes on growth performance, cellular and humoral immunity, and relative weights of lymphoid organs at an early period of broiler chickens fed triticale-based diets. South African Journal of Animal Science, 47: 776-784. DOI: 10.4314/sajas.v47i6.5 
Jahan M, Asaduzzaman M & Sarkar A. 2006. Performance of broiler fed on mash, pellet, and crumble. International Journal of Poultry Science, 5: 265-270. DOI: 10.3923/ijps.2006.265.270
Jha R, Das R, Oak S & Mishra P. 2020. Probiotics (direct-fed microbial) in poultry nutrition and their effects on nutrient utilization, growth and laying performance, and gut health: a systematic review. Animals, 10: 1863. DOI: 10.3390/ani10101863
Jin L, Ho Y, Abdullah N & Jalaudin S. 1996. Influence of dried Bacillus subtitles and lactobacilli cultures on intestinal microflora and performance in broilers. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 9: 397-404. DOI: 10.5713/ajas.1996.397
Khaksefidi A & Rahimi S. 2005. Effect of probiotic inclusion in the diet of broiler chickens on performance, feed efficiency, and carcass quality. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 18: 1153-1156. DOI: 10.5713/ajas.2005.1153 
Khan SH, Yousaf B, Mian AA, Rehman A & Farooq MS. 2011. Assessing the effect of administering different probiotics in drinking water supplements on broiler performance, blood biochemistry,y, and immune response. Journal of Applied Animal Research, 39: 418-428. DOI: 10.1080/09712119.2011.623783
Kumar GL & Kiernan J. 2010. Special stains and H&E. Connection:14.
Latorre J, Hernandez-Velasco X, Vicente J, Wolfenden R, Hargis B & Tellez G. 2017. Effects of the inclusion of a Bacillus direct-fed microbial on performance parameters, bone quality, recovered gut microflora, and intestinal morphology in broilers consuming a grower diet containing corn distillers dried grains with solubles. Poultry Science, 96: 2728-2735. DOI: 10.1080/09712119.2011.623783
Lemme A, Wijtten P, Van Wichen J, Petri A & Langhout D. 2006. Responses of male growing broilers to increasing levels of balanced protein offered as coarse mash or pellets of varying quality. Poultry Science, 85: 721-730. DOI: 10.1093/ps/85.4.721
Li Z, Wang W, Liu D & Guo Y. 2018. Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus on the growth performance and intestinal health of broilers challenged with Clostridium perfringens. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 9: 1-10. DOI: 10.1186/s40104-018-0243-3
Lucas AM. 1961. Atlas of avian hematology, US Department of Agriculture.
Lv M, Yan L, Wang Z, An S, Wu M & Lv Z. 2015. Effects of feed form and feed particle size on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and digestive tract development of broilers. Animal Nutrition, 1: 252-256. DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2015.06.001
Mateos G, Jiménez-Moreno E, Serrano M & Lázaro R. 2012. Poultry response to high levels of dietary fiber sources varies in physical and chemical characteristics. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 21: 156-174. DOI: 10.3382/japr.2011-00477
Mbye M, Baig MA, AbuQamar SF, El‐Tarabily KA, Obaid RS, Osaili TM, Al‐Nabulsi AA, Turner MS, Shah NP & Ayyash MM. 2020. Updates on an understanding of probiotic lactic acid bacteria responses to environmental stresses and highlights proteomic analyses. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 19: 1110-1124. DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12554
McCracken K. 2002. Effects of physical processing on the nutritive value of poultry diets. Poultry Feeds, Supply, Composition, and Nutritive Value, 301-316. DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2013.01.002
McKinney L & Teeter R. 2004. Predicting the effective caloric value of nonnutritive factors: I. Pellet quality and II. Prediction of consequential formulation dead zones. Poultry Science, 83: 1165-1174. DOI: 10.1093/ps/83.7.1065
 Mohebodini H, Jazi V, Ashayerizadeh A, Toghyani M & Tellez-Isaias G. 2010. Productive parameters, cecal microflora, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant status, and thigh muscle fatty acid profile in broiler chickens fed with Eucalyptus globulus essential oil. Poultry Science, 100: 3. DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.12.020
Mountzouris K, Tsirtsikos P, Kalamara E, Nitsch S, Schatzmayr G & Fegeros K. 2007. Evaluation of the efficacy of a probiotic containing Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, and Pediococcus strains in promoting broiler performance and modulating cecal microflora composition and metabolic activities. Poultry Science, 86: 309-317. DOI: 10.1093/ps/86.2.309
Mukhopadhyay PK, An AB, Tobias RD & Watts DL. 2008. Try, try again: Replication-based variance estimation methods for survey data analysis in SAS® 9.2. In: SAS Global Forum. Citeseer.
Nayebpor M, Farhomand P & Hashemi A. 2007. Effects of different levels of direct-fed microbial (Primalac) on growth performance and humoral immune response in broiler chickens. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 1308-1313. DOI: javaa.2007.1308.1313
Pattananandecha T, Sirilun S, Duangjitcharoen Y, Sivamaruthi BS, Suwannalert P, Peerajan S & Chaiyasut C. 2016. Hydrolyzed inulin alleviates the azoxymethane-induced preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci by altering selected intestinal microbiota in Sprague-Dawley rats. Pharmaceutical Biology, 54(9): 1596-1605. DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2015.1110597
Paturi G, Phillips M, Kailasapathy K. 2008. Effect of probiotic strains Lactobacillus acidophilus LAFTI L10 and Lactobacillus paracasei LAFTI L26 on systemic immune functions and bacterial translocation in mice. Journal Food Protection. 71: 796–801. DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x-71.4.796
Olnood CG, Beski SS, Choct M & Iji PA. 2015. Novel probiotics: Their effects on growth performance, gut development, microbial community, and activity of broiler chickens. Animal Nutrition, 1: 184-191. DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2015.07.003
Rhayat L, Jacquier V, Brinch K, Nielsen P, Nelson A, Geraert P-A & Devillard E. 2017. Bacillus subtilis s train specificity affects performance improvement in broilers. Poultry Science, 96: 2274-2280. DOI: 10.3382/ps/pex018
Samanya M & Yamauchi K-e. 2002. Histological alterations of intestinal villi in chickens fed dried Bacillus subtilis var. natto. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 133:95-104. DOI: 10.1016/s1095-6433(02)00121-6
Seifi K, Karimi‐Torshizi M & Deldar H. 2018. Probiotics intake from the proximal or distal gastrointestinal tract: The investigation on intestinal morphology and performance of Japanese quail. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 102: e509-e5DOI DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12781.
Sen S, Ingale S, Kim Y, Kim J, Kim K, Lohakare J, Kim E, Kim H, Ryu M & Kwon I. 2012. Effect of supplementation of Bacillus subtilis LS 1-2 to broiler diets on growth performance, nutrient retention, caecal microbiology, and small intestinal morphology. Research in Veterinary Science, 93: 264-268.DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2011.05.021
Shah M, Zaneb H, Masood S, Khan RU, Ashraf S, Sikandar A, Rehman HFU & Rehman HU. 2019. Effect of dietary supplementation of zinc and multi-microbe probiotic on growth traits and alteration of intestinal architecture in the broiler. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins 11: 931-937. DOI: 10.1007/s12602-018-9424-9
Singh K, Kallali B, Kumar A & Thaker V. 2011. Probiotics: A review. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 1: S287-S290. DOI: 10.1016/S2221-1691(11)60174-3
Sohail M, Hume M, Byrd J, Nisbet D, Ijaz A, Sohail A, Shabbir M & Rehman H. 2012. Effect of supplementation of prebiotic mannan-oligosaccharides and probiotic mixture on growth performance of broilers subjected to chronic heat stress. Poultry Science, 91: 2235-2240. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2012-02182
Sohail MU, Hume ME, Byrd JA, Nisbet DJ, Shabbir MZ, Ijaz A & Rehman H. 2015. Molecular analysis of the caecal and tracheal microbiome of heat-stressed broilers supplemented with prebiotic and probiotic. Avian Pathology, 44: 67-74. DOI: 10.1080/03079457
Teo A & Tan H-M. 2007. Evaluation of the performance and intestinal gut microflora of broilers fed on corn-soy diets supplemented with Bacillus subtilis PB6 (CloSTAT). Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 16: 296-303. DOI: 10.1093/japr/16.3.296
Weese J. 2002. Microbiologic evaluation of commercial probiotics. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 220: 794-797. DOI: 10.2460/javma.2002.220.794
Wegmann TG & Smithies O. 1966. A simple hemagglutination system requires small amounts of red cells and antibodies. Transfusion, 6: 67-73.
Yousefi M & Karkoodi K. 2007. Effect of probiotic Thepax® and Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on performance and egg quality of laying hens. International Journal of Poultry Science, 6: 52-54. DOI: 10.3923/ijps.2007.52.54
Zamanizadeh A, Mirakzehi MT, Agah MJ, Saleh H & Baranzehi T. 2021. A comparison of two probiotics Aspergillus oryzae and, Saccharomyces cerevisiae on productive performance, egg quality, small intestinal morphology, and gene expression in laying Japanese quail. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 20: 232-242. DOI: 10.1080/1828051X.2021.1878944
Zang J, Piao X, Huang D, Wang J, Ma X & Ma Y. 2009. Effects of feed particle size and feed form on growth performance, nutrient metabolizability, and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 22: 107-112. DOI: 10.5713/ajas.2009.80352
Zhang X, Sun Z, Cao F, Ahmad H, Yang X, Zhao L & Wang T. 2015. Effects of dietary supplementation with fermented ginkgo leave on antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and microbial ecology in broiler chicks. British Poultry Science, 56: 370-380.  DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2015.1030590
Zhang Z & Kim I. 2014. Effects of multistrain probiotics on growth performance, apparent ileal nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, cecal microbial shedding, and excreta odor contents in broilers. Poultry Science, 93: 364-370. DOI: 10.3382/ps.2013-03314
Poultry Science Journal
Volume 11, Issue 1
January 2023
Pages 59-71

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics