Maintaining intestinal microflora balance in heat-stressed broilers using dietary creeping wood sorrel (Oxalis corniculata) powder and chromium (chromium picolinate)

Abstract

Aim of study: To determine the effect of dietary creeping wood sorrel powder (Oxalis corniculata) and chromium supplemented to broilers (1-42 days) exposed to heat stress, on their performance and on the intestinal and caecal microbiota. Area of study: Ilfov, Romania Material and methods: The feeding trial was conducted on 60, day-old Cobb 500 broilers, divided equally in two groups, homogenous in terms of body weight: 46.36 ± 2.96 g (C), 46.36 ± 2.93 g (E). Each group consisted in six replicates (5 chicks/replicate). The broilers were housed in an experimental hall at 32 °C constant temperature and 23 h light regimen. Unlike the dietary control diet (C), the experimental diet (E) was supplemented with 1% creeping wood sorrel powder and 0.2 mg chromium picolinate/kg diet. Six birds (1 per each replication) were slaughtered on days 28 and 42, and samples of caecal and intestinal content were collected for bacteriological analysis. Main results: The dietary creeping wood sorrel powder and chromium supplements for heat-stressed broilers had no significant influence on their growth performance (1-42 d). Overall, the E diet had a beneficial effect on the balance of the caecal microflora (p<0.05); however, in the intestine, the E diet had a positive influence (p<0.05) on the balance of the intestinal microflora, only for the samples collected at 28 days. Research highlights: Dietary creeping wood sorrel powder and chromium supplements can be an efficient tool for maintaining a proper balance of intestinal microflora of heat-stressed broilers at grower stage.