• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.521-529
• /
• 2010

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate multi-microbe submerged liquid (SLF) and solid substrate (SSF) fermented probiotic products in broilers. The SLF and SSF probiotics were comprised of Lactobacillus acidophilus ($1.1{\times}10^9$ and $4{\times}10^8$ cfu/g), Bacillus subtilis ($1.1{\times}10^9$ and $4{\times}10^9$ cfu/g), Saccharomyces cerevisiae ($1.5{\times}10^7$ and $1.0{\times}10^4$ cfu/g) and Aspergillus oryzae ($2.6{\times}10^7$ and $4.3{\times}10^7$ cfu/g), respectively. In Exp. 1, 640 day-old Ross chicks were allotted to 4 treatments, each comprising 4 replicates (40 chicks/replicate). The basal diet was prepared without any antimicrobials (negative control, NC), and 20 mg/kg avilamycin (positive control, PC), 0.3% SLF and 0.3% SSF probiotics were added to the basal diets as treatments. Birds fed PC and SSF diets showed improved (p<0.001) overall weight gain and F/G than birds fed NC and SLF diets; whereas, birds fed SLF diet had better weight gain and F/G than birds fed NC diet. Retention of CP was higher (p<0.05) in birds fed the SSF diet than birds fed PC, SLF and NC diets. Birds fed the SLF diet tended to have higher (p<0.10) cecal total anaerobic bacteria than birds fed PC and NC diets; whereas, lesser cecal coliforms were noticed in birds fed PC, SLF and SSF diets than birds fed the NC diet. In Exp. 2, 640 day-old Ross chicks were randomly allotted to 4 treatments in a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement. Each treatment had 4 replicates (40 chicks/replicate). Two different multi-microbe probiotic products (0.3% SLF or SSF) each with two different antibiotics (10 mg/kg colistin, or 20 mg/kg avilamycin) were used as dietary treatments. Birds fed the SSF diet had greater weight gain (p<0.001), better F/G (p<0.05), greater retention of energy (p<0.001) and protein (p<0.05), and lesser cecal Clostridium (d 35) than birds fed SLF diet. Birds fed the colistin-supplemented diet had less (p<0.01) cecal coliforms when compared with birds fed the avilamycin diet. Additionally, birds fed the avilamycin diet had greater energy retention (p<0.05) than birds fed the colistin diet. Thus, the results of this study suggest the multi-microbe probiotic product prepared by a solid substrate fermentation method to be superior to the probiotic product prepared by submerged liquid fermentation; moreover, feeding of probiotics with different antibiotics did not elicit any interaction effect between probiotic and antibiotic.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.433-438
• /
• 2010

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of the fermented by products garlic and onion on growth performance, blood composition and cecal microflora in broiler chickens. A total four hundred eighty, day old broiler chickens (Ross) were randomly divided into four groups with four replicates of thirty birds each. The treatment groups were negative group (NC, antibiotic-free diet), positive group (PC, basal diet with 0.05% and 0.03% anticoccidials), fermented of onion by product 1.0% group (T1) and fermented of onion by product 1.0% group (T2). The body weight of broilers fed the diets containing fermented by products garlic was higher than the other treatments during overall period. No significant difference were observed on serum chemical composition and blood corpuscle. In the cecal microflira of broiler, the population of the Lactic acid bacteria was showed the higher in chicken fed diets supplemented with fermented of garlic group than other groups (P<0.05). These results suggest the possibility that fermented of garlic and onion by product could be used as the alternative of antibiotics growth promotor of broiler chickens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.151-159
• /
• 2003

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of feeding Aspergillus oryzae(AO) ferment on performance, intestinal microflora, serum components, ammonia generation and litter dampness in broiler chicks. In experiment I, three hundred sixty, one day old broiler chicks, Abor Acres, were fed 0 and 0.1% of Aspergiilus oryzae short conidia ferment(AOS) and 0.1% of Aspergillus oryzae long conidia ferment(AOL) for five weeks. In experiment II, three hundred sixty, one day old broiler chicks, Abor Acres were fed 0, 0.1 and 0.2% of Aspergillus oryzae long conidia ferment(AOL) for five weeks. In experiment I, growth rates were not statistically different among dietary treatments. AOS and AOL showed increased tendency in weight gain and feed intake compared to those of control, whereas feed conversion was not different. Litter dampness of AOS and AOL was also tended to decrease compared to that of control, but was not significantly different. Fecal ammonia gas generation was decreased in feeding AOS and AOL, and maintained 1/2 to 3/4 compared to the control. In serum metabolites, AOS and AOL increased glucose and calcium, and decreased total protein, blood urea nitrogen and total cholesterol. In experiment II, body weight of chicks fed 0.1 and 0.2% AOL were heavier than the control(P<0.05). Feed intake of chicks fed 0.1 and 0.2% AOL also were higher than the none, but feed conversion ratio was not different among treatments. Ileal and cecal microflora showed increased tendency in lactic acid bacteria compared to those of the control. Salmonella and E. coli were decreased in ileum of chicks fed 0.1 and 0.2% AOL. In conclusion, feeding AO ferment increased growth performance and improved intestinal microflora of broiler chicks and environments of broiler house.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.143-149
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of the mixture of probiotics (MP) on growth performance, size of small intestine, cecal microflora and ammonia concentrations in broiler chicks. A total of 700, one-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four treatments with seven replications having 25 birds per pen. The birds were fed one of the four experimental diets; containing no antibiotics nor MP (negative control, NC), containing antibiotics without MP(positive control, PC), negative control with MP 0.1% and negative control with MP 0.2% for 5 weeks. During overall experiment, birds in PC and MP treatments had higher final BW and daily BW gains than birds in NC treatments; however, the significance was not identified. The feed conversion ratio of the chicks fed the diet containing MP was significantly improved as compared to those fed the NC diets. The weights of jejunum were increased by the MP (p<0.05), but weights of duodenum, ileum and length of small intestine were similar among the groups. Birds in PC treatment showed lower populations of total microbes and lactic acid bacteria than other groups (p<0.05), cecal ammonia concentrations of the chicks fed the diet containing MP were significantly decreased as compared to those of NC and PC (p<0.01). In conclusion, MP added to the broiler diets improved the feed conversion rate and reduced cecal ammonia concentration.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.150-160
• /
• 2012

The object of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of mulberry leaves and silkworm excreta ethanol extracts on weight performances, blood characteristics, cecal microflorae of chickens. Two hundred forty male broiler chicks(Ross) were fed diets for five weeks containing 0.1%(MLA) and 1%(MLB) of mulberry leaves ethanol extracts, and 0.1%(SEA) and 1%(SEB) of silkworm excreta ethanol extracts. Weight performance did show no significant difference in all test groups which were fed with supplementation of mulberry leaves and silkworm excreta ethanol extracts. They showed better weight gain and feed conversion than the negative control group which was fed only with forage without antibiotics. ABTS(2'-azine-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid]) test was conducted to investigate free radical scavenging activity of blood in tested groups. ABTS scavenging activities of tested groups were higher than control groups in significant level, though there was no significant difference(P = 0.396). Specifically, MLB group showed the highest scavenging activity. Blood-level concentration of MDA, which is an indicator of lipid peroxidation, was also decreased in tested groups and the lowest level was observed in SEA(P = 0.001). As storage time increased at $4^{\circ}C$, muscle-level MDA concentrations of all tested groups were generally increased and significant difference was obsereved between tested groups and controls in total increase of MDA concentration($P=4.417{\times}10^{-3}$). In cecal microflorae, SEA and SEB showed decreased total microbe population compared to NC($P=6.462{\times}10^{-5}$) and even to PC. Supplementation of mulberry leave and silkworm excreta ethanol extract did show a similar inhibition effect against Salmonella sp., furthermore, MLB did enhanced the growth of Lactobacillus sp.($P=3.636{\times}10^{-7}$). In summary, ethanol extract of silkworm excreta may be a potential alternative of antibiotics for chicks. In addition, both of ethanol extracts supplementation to broiler chicks would be very useful not only to improve antioxidant effect of blood but also to suppress lipid peroxidation without any loss of weight performance in poultry farming.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.45-51
• /
• 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the dietary effects of ferulic acid-based preparation on the performance, blood profiles, and microflora of broiler chicks. A total of 400 chicks (1 day old Ross × Ross) were divided into 20 groups and assigned to four treatments: a basal diet (control) or a treatment diet containing 0.1%, 0.2%, or 0.3% ferulic acid-based preparation. The birds were fed from 1 to 30 d of age. Average daily gain improved compared to that in the control group in all periods (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between treatments in Average daily feed intake during all periods. Feed conversion ratio during starter (day 1 to 21) and total day 1 to 30 periods significantly improved (P<0.05) in the treatments containing ferulic acid-based preparation compared to that in the control. The total cholesterol levels in all the treatments containing ferulic acid-based preparation were significantly lower than that in the control (P<0.05). The globulin content was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the treatment with 0.2% and 0.3% ferulic acid-based preparations than that in the control and 0.1% ferulic acid-based preparation treatments. Among the treatments, there was no significant difference in the total number of cecal bacteria. The number of lactic acid bacteria significantly increased in all treatments containing ferulic acid-based preparation compared to that in the control (P<0.05). The number of coliforms significantly decreased in all treatments containing ferulic acid-based preparation compared to that in the control (P<0.05). In conclusion, the addition of ferulic acid-based preparation to the diet improved broiler performance, blood profiles, and intestinal flora.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.66-68
• /
• 2006

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of medicinal plant extract on performance in broiler chickens. A total of eight hundred forty, 1-d-old broiler chicks(Ross) were randomly allocated to 7 treatments with 4 replicates of 30 birds per replicate. The treatments were negative control (NC, diets without antibiotics), positive control (PC, diets with-containing antibiotics), Schisandrae fructus (T1), Scutellariae radix (T2), Camellia sinensis (T3), Artemisia capillaris (T4) and mixed medicinal plants (T5) extracts added to drinking water. The final body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion rate were significantly improved in all treatments compared to NC (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the relative weights of liver, spleen, pancreas, bursa of Fabricius and intestinal tract among the groups. The relative lengths of duodenum, jejunum and ileum were significantly decreased in PC compared with other groups (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the cecal microflora. The contents of triacylglycerol (TG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in blood serum were not significantly influenced. The concentration of cholesterol in blood serum was significantly decreased in all treated groups as compared to those of the control (P<0.05). There was no difference in the components of leukocytes and erythrocytes among the groups.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.8
• /
• pp.1215-1222
• /
• 2022

Objective: A feeding trial was carried out to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of silymarin seed extract on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta microbiota, excreta gas emission, blood profiles, and meat quality in broilers. Methods: A total of 1,088 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks (mixed-sex) with an initial body weight of 42.34±0.82 g, were randomly allocated into 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 17 replicates of 16 chicks per cage and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0%, 0.02%, 0.04%, and 0.06% of silymarin. Results: The inclusion of silymarin supplementation linearly increased the body weight of broilers during days 7 to 21 and 1 to 35 days. On day 35, broilers fed a diet containing graded levels of silymarin supplementation linearly increased the nutrient digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, and nitrogen and cecal Lactobacillus counts (p = 0.038). While silymarin supplement linearly reduced the methyl mercaptans (p = 0.039) and acetic acid (p = 0.007) emission in broilers. No significant effects were observed on the blood profile. Relative weights of organs such as breast muscle, bursa of fabricius were increased (linear effect, p<0.05), water holding capacity was enhanced by increasing the silymarin level from 0% to 0.06%. A linear reduction (p>0.05) in drip loss from meat samples during days 1, 3, 5, and 7 by the addition of graded level of silymarin to the diet. Conclusion: An increasing level of silymarin supplementation to the diet of broiler would be beneficial to enhance growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta microflora, blood profile, and meat quality traits.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.143-151
• /
• 2020

This study investigated the effects of the addition of commercial enzyme products to broiler feed with reduced levels of metabolizable energy and crude protein on the growth performance, blood profiles, and cecal microflora. A total of 750 seven-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five treatment groups with six replicates (25 birds/replicate) for 28 days. A corn-wheat-soybean meal-based diet was formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient recommendations and used as the control diet. Experimental diets with metabolizable energy reduced by 100 kcal/kg and crude protein by 1% were formulated containing four different commercial enzyme products. Feed intake and weight gain were not affected by the dietary treatments; however, feed conversion ratios were significantly lower (P<0.01) in the control group than in the other treatment groups during the entire experimental period. There were no significant differences in the blood profiles and cecal microflora between the dietary treatments. However, the viscosity of jejunal contents in chicks fed a diet with enzyme B was significantly lower than that in the other groups. The tentative marketing age was unaffected by any of the dietary treatments, and ranged from 26.39 d to 26.84 d. Collectively, the use of commercial enzymes contributed to a similar weight gain as that in chicks fed diets with reduced energy and crude protein levels; however, it failed to maintain the feed conversion ratio.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 2007

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary single or mixed supplementation of plant extract, fermented medicinal plants and Lactobacillus on performance, nutrient availability, blood characteristics, cecal microflora and intestinal digestive enzymes activity in broiler chickens and to prove the possibility of plant derived compounds and Lactobacillus as an antibiotic growth promoter alternative. A total of eight hundred forty, 1-d-old male broiler chicks (Ross strain) were randomly divided into 7 groups with 4 replicates of 30 birds each. The treatments were NC (antibiotic-free diet), PC (basal diet with 0.05% antibiotics and 0.03% anticoccidials), PE (basal diet with 0.1% plant extract), FMP (basal diet with 0.1% fermented medicinal plants), LB (basal diet with 0.1% probiotics), PE+LB (basal diet with 0.1% plant extract and 0.1% probiotics) and FMP+LB (basal diet with 0.1% fermented medicinal plants and 0.1% probiotics). The final body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion rate in all treated groups tended to be improved or significantly improved as compared to those of NC (P<0.05). PE was significantly high in the final body weight, body weight gain of all treated groups (P<0.05). But the growth performance was significantly lower in all treated groups except PE than PC (P<0.05). No synergic effect in growth performance was found when plant extracts and Lactobacillus were mixed and fed to broilers. The ratio of albumin to globulin was significantly lower in all groups than NC (P<0.05). And the stress indicator (lymphocyte/heterophil ratio) of NC was significantly reduced than other treatments (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed on the numbers of cecal microbes and Lactobacillus. The number of cecal E. coli and Salmonella in FMP and LB were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The activity of intestinal digestive enzymes except to sucrase of treated groups significantly decreased compare to those of controls (P<0.05). These results suggest the possibility that plant extracts and Lactobacillus could be used as the alternative of antibiotic growth promoters by improving the performance of broiler chicks.