Evaluation of a hatchery administered lactic acid bacteria probiotic product on early body weightI and mortality in broiler chickens under field conditions

INTRODUCTION

The chicken GI tract has a diverse microflora, containing more than 900 species of bacteria (1). In addition to biochemical functions, the microflora is responsible for digestion and subsequent nutrient absorption (2). One of the major influencers on the chicks’ microbial colonization is the environment, since GI colonization starts immediately after hatch (2). Under commercial conditions, maternal microflora transference is minimal and the chick is exposed to uncontrolled bacterial colonization from machinery, boxes, trucks, personnel, and others (3).

Treatments with probiotic bacteria have been extensively studied under commercial conditions. The results from these studies showed that chicks respond best when probiotics are administered early in life (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). Although application of probiotics during the brooding period may be indicated, the “gap” between hatching and placement may still be the crucial application period for achievement of full effect from probiotics. Colonization of a probiotic product immediately after hatching could stimulate GI tract development, protect against pathogenic bacteria colonization, support further microflora establishment, and provide a cascade of benefits through the chicks’ lifetime, ultimately resulting in improved production parameters.

The neonatal probiotic product FloraStart was extensively studied under laboratorial conditions. The bacterial isolates present in this probiotic showed to successfully colonize neonatal chicks’ GI tract and improve chicks’ GI health during the critical first week of life (10). This manuscript’s objective was to evaluate the impact of this neonatal probiotic on seven day mortality and body weight of broiler chickens under commercial conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Probiotic culture and application. FloraStart is a poultry-derived, generally recognized as safe (GRAS) probiotic culture, consisting of two strains of lactic acid bacterial isolates: Lactobacillus plantarum TY036 and Enterococcus faecium MFF109. For application in commercial hatcheries, the powder form of the probiotic product was mixed with water following manufacturer’s directions. Twenty mL of product solution was sprayed (coarse spray) per box of 100 chicks, allowing each chick to be exposed to an average dose of 10⁷ cfu of the bacterial isolates.

Experimental design. Subsequent to FloraStart spray application at the hatchery, each poultry company followed its standard procedures of transportation, placement, and brooding. In all trials, two groups were evaluated, a control group (not sprayed with probiotic) and FloraStart treated group. An experiment number was designated for each poultry company as follows.

Experiment 1. Chicks were placed during December 2013 and January 2014. Control groups consisted of 15 farms with a total number of 2,120,012 birds, and FloraStart groups consisted of 14 farms with a total number of 1,995,852 birds. Seven d mortality was evaluated.

Experiment 2. Chicks were placed during January and February 2014. Control groups consisted of 28 farms with a total number of 2,480,182 birds, and FloraStart groups consisted of 25 farms with a total number of 2,256,611 birds. Seven d mortality and body weight were evaluated.

Experiment 3. Chicks were placed in December 2013. Control groups consisted of 40 houses and FloraStart groups consisted of 42 houses. Seven d body weight was measured.

Experiment 4. Chicks were placed in August 2014. Control groups consisted of four houses and FloraStart groups consisted of four houses. Seven d body weight was measured.

Statistical analysis. Mortality cards were provided to authors for data analysis and calculated by averaging the seven d cumulative mortality rate on Microsoft Excel. Chicks’ body weight was measured by weighing a group of 10 chicks per bucket, and 10 buckets per house (n=100 chicks/house). Body weight among groups was compared using the GLM procedure of SAS (11) with significance reported at P < 0.05. Means were further separated using Duncan’s range test.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

According to Creasey (12), seven d mortality is a good tool for measuring hatchery and brooding performance; likewise early mortality impacts final livability and performance. In two distinctive experiments, a decrease in the seven d mortality was observed in the houses where chicks received probiotic in the hatchery. In experiments 1 and 2, a decrease in mortality of 0.61% and 0.14% respectively, was recorded. Interestingly, in three distinctive field experiments, the probiotic product FloraStart showed improvements in body weight. In experiments 2, 3, and 4, chicks that were sprayed with the probiotic product at the hatchery showed a significantly (P < 0.05) higher body weight at seven d of age compared to control chicks (Table 1).

The mechanisms of action regarding decreased mortality and improved performance through the use of probiotics have not been elucidated. The most frequently described functions for the GI microflora are modulation of the immune system (13, 14), nutrient utilization, organic acids production, maintenance and renewal of intestinal epithelial cells and intestinal barrier, toxins breakdown, exclusion of pathogens, and improvement of excreta “quality” (15, 3). Changes in the GI microflora, which influences energy intake from feed, may cause variations on broilers’ performance (16). Moreover, it has been reported that birds with different intestinal microflora presented differences in feed conversion rate after consuming the same feed (17).

In the present series of field experiments, the probiotic product FloraStart showed increased body weight and decreased overall mortality in the first seven days of life.

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Table 1. Body weight data from Experiments 2, 3, and 4 (7-day bucket weights groups of 10 chicks).