New Generation of Water-Soluble Probiotics to Alleviate Gut Health Challenge During Feed Transition Period in Broiler Production

Probiotics are included in the feed and administered continuously during the entire production cycle to maintain intestinal integrity and strengthen the immunity of the bird, thus reducing the need for repeated medication. Alternatively, water-soluble probiotics are often applied to quickly react to upcoming stress situations in the flock – but they can negatively impact the formation of biofilm in the water lines. For this reason, formulations that reduce the formation of biofilms while remaining efficacious are required.

The new formulation is an effervescent tablet loaded with a natural, fast-growing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940 (5E⁺⁸ CFU/L), ensuring a fast dissolution rate (10 min in average) as well a homogenous distribution of the spores in water without additional stirring. In this study, we tested the efficacy of the new formulation under field conditions in a commercial farm. The farm, located in the UK, was composed of six houses of 36,500 Ross 308 birds each, with same stocking density, lighting, drinking and ventilation system. The different houses were randomly allocated to the different treatments: three control houses (C) and three houses received the tablets in water (P). One tablet was dissolved in a 20 L stock solution and then supplemented to the drinking line at a concentration of 2%. The target is to have one tablet/1,000L and a final concentration of 5 E⁺⁸ CFU/L of water. The tablets were administered on an intermittent model during a stress period. The birds received the probiotic in drinking water for three days after hatch and during the feed transition for approximately 12 hours/day for three days to follow. Animal performance: feed and water consumption, average body weight (Av BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality were recorded daily during the entire rearing period. Data were submitted to one-way analysis of variance (α=0.05). Results showed that applying the new formulation of the probiotic resulted in an increased av BWG by 34g compared to the control houses (P < 0.01). Hock-burn and pododermatitis scores were improved by approximately 5% in all three treatment houses as well as less factory rejects (- 0.1% ~1095 Birds) compared to the control. The lower incidence of hock and pododermatitis in the treatment houses may be attributed to the lower moisture content of the litter as indicated by the decrease in feed: water ratio (1.85 and 1.78 for C and P, respectively). During the study, each two houses (C and P) suffered badly from chronic yolk sac infection. On day 3, high mortality of 3.39% was reported in house C and the veterinarian made the decision to medicate with antibiotics. On the other hand, the P house had lower mortality (0.82%) and no antibiotic treatment was required. The veterinarian responsible for the farm stated that the probiotic had a protective effect on the birds and mitigated the losses on house P, avoiding the necessity for antibiotic treatment. The 2 houses were from the same flock and the same parent flock, and assuming that they would have been equally affected by the hatchery related issues leading to the subsequent development of retained yolk sac.

The economic evaluation showed a positive return on investment (ROI) of 5,98. In conclusion, the new probiotic effervescent tablet, allowed an easy and quick application via water supply during stress period. It resulted in a better animal performance, less medication and improved animal welfare.