Abstract
This experiment examined the effects of feeding Aspergillus oryzae (AO) culture to laying hens, on fecal microbial populations, fecal pH and moisture content, egg quality, and metabolizabilities of several nutrients. Sixteen commercial 38-wk-old laying hens were randomly allotted to four diets: control; with 0.15% locally produced AO culture; with 0.3% locally produced AO culture, and; or with 0.3% imported AO. Each treatment consisted of four replicates (cages) containing one bird per cage according to a completely randomized design. After 4 wk, AO were recovered in the feces of birds fed the AO diets, indicating that AO might pass through the fore-gut alive and become active in the hind gut. The number of Lactobacillus spp. in feces was higher in all treated groups than that of the control, indicating that AO would provide a beneficial environment for the Lactobacillus spp. to proliferate in the intestine. The number of fecal E. coli was significantly reduced by the addition of AO. A similar trend was also found for aerobic bacteria. Although not significant, fecal moisture contents tended to be reduced by the addition of AO. Fecal pH was not significantly different among the treatments. The addition of AO did not affect the various economic traits of eggs. Metabolizabilities of gross energy and dry matter measured during the 5th wk were increased by the AO supplementation. It appears that AO culture alone could be used as a probiotic supplement for layers.