A comparison of cecal microflora and volatile fatty acid concentration in goslings fed diets supplemented with or without a dried bacillus subtilis culture

Abstract

Bacillus subtilis, a Gram-positive, aerobic, nonpathogenic, endospore-forming bacterium was evaluated for its probiotic potential in the cecum of goslings. One hundred and twenty one-day-old goslings, randomly divided into two dietary treatments, were fed basal diet without or with 250 mg dried Bacillus subtilis culture (DBSC) / kg for 4 wk. The cecal chyme of 24 goslings on each treatment was collected for analyses at 28 d of age. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts were significantly increased and the harmful bacteria (P<0.05), Escherichia coli count was markedly reduced in goslings fed diet with DBSC (P<0.05). The total volatile fatty acid (VFA), acetic and butyric acid concentration increased on DBSC supplementation resulting in lower pH. This study indicated that the diet supplemented with Bacillus subtilis significantly improved the cecal ecosystem of goslings by increasing the probiotics population and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. © GSP, India.