Effects of supplement with different level of Bacillus coagulans as probiotics on growth performance and intestinal microflora populations of broiler chickens

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Bacillus coagulans (B. coagulans), a spore-forming bacterium on performance and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens. A total of 192 one day old broilers were randomly assigned into four experimental treatments for 42 days. The experimental treatments received a corn-soybean basal diet and were as follows: basal diet (control), basal diet+0.005% B. coagulans, basal diet+0.02% B. coagulans, basal diet+0.04% B. coagulans. Each treatment had two replicates of 24 birds. Treatment effects on performance and intestinal microbiota composition of broiler were determined. Dietary supplementation of 0.005 and 0.04% B. coagulans significantly improved FCR (feed/gain) over the 21-42 days and the full 42 days. However, ADG was decreased by 0.005 and 0.04% B. coagulans supplementation over the 21-42 days and the full 42 days. In intestinal microflora, the count of Lactobacillus was significantly increased on duodenum and cecum by 0.02 and 0.04% B. coagulans diets treatments. Additionally, the count of E. coli was significantly decreased in duodenum and cecum on chicks fed with 0.02 and 0.04% B. coagulans diets. In conclusion, B. coagulans has the potential to be a beneficial microorganism on the modulation of intestinal microflora of broiler chickens. © Medwell Journals, 2011.