Effect of supplementation of a Bacillus-based probiotic on broiler growth performance
Published:April 15, 2019
By:Alain RIGGI*¹, Anis HEDHLI¹, Douglas CURRIE², Eric AUCLAIR¹, Ruth RASPOET¹. ¹
Phileo - Lesaffre Animal Care; ²Roslin Nutrition Ltd
Abstract
Since the ban of using antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in livestock in several countries, probiotics have been considered as possible alternative. Spore forming bacteria that belong to Bacillus species are one of those probiotics selected for their ability to resist adverse environmental and nutritional conditions such as, low pH in the stomach and high temperature of the feed manufacturing process. Our study aims at comparing the effects of two doses of a Bacillus-based-probiotic product (BP) on broilers growth performance. A total of 840 broiler chickens (1-day old, Ross 308, male) were randomly allocated to one of 3 dietary treatment groups, with 8 replicate pens per treatment and 35 birds per pen. The birds were fed one of three dietary treatments: (T1) control with no BP, (T2) control + log 4.5 CFU/kg BP, (T3) control + log 5 CFU/kg BP, for a period of 42 days divided in 3 phases: (i) starter (0-14), (ii) grower (15- 28) and (iii) finisher (29-42). During the starter phase, both birds from T2 or T3 gained significantly more weight (14.5% and +6%, respectively) and consumed more feed (+10% and +4%, respectively) than birds from T1 (P < 0.0001). During the grower phase, birds from T3 gained more weight (1003,5 g) than T1 (814.2 g) and consumed significantly also more feed (1459.9 g) than control group (1261.3 g). During the finisher phase, no significant difference in weight gain or in feed intake was recorded between treatments. Overall (d 0-42), birds fed with BP resulted with higher body weight gain (P < 0.0087) and consumed more feed compared to control group T1 (P < 0.0121) without any difference between T2 and T3. No effect was observed on FCR during the overall period. To conclude, supplementation of diets with either log 4.5 or log 5 CFU/kg of feed of a Bacillus-based probiotic increased body weight gain of broilers and feed intake over the 42-day study as compared to its control.
Dr. Alain, as far as my question is concerned, I would like to clarify that I was not referring to diets with the addition of acid, but with vegetable oil.
Two of the strains, B amilolyquifaciens and B pumilus, in the Microsaf probiotic mix indeed have bile salt hydrolase activity. With respect to your question, if presence of this activity would influence broiler production yield when feeding a diet with acid, we speculate that this is not the case like for the lactobacilli having this activity. The bacilli in the Microsaft mix are all treated with our patented GO-technology® which ensures germination of the spores will take place once they encounter freely available water, even in the presence of acids from the diet.
Dr. Alain, the strain of Bacillus used produces the enzyme BSH, like some strains of Lactobacillus? In case it does, its use in diets containing oil, could not compromise the performance of chickens?
