Production performance, immune response and carcass traits of broiler chickens fed diet incorporated with probiotics

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the production performance, immune response and carcass traits in broiler chickens (0 to 6 weeks) fed diets incorporated with probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidi). One-day-old chicks (192) were randomly selected and divided into 24 groups with 8 chicks in each group (6 dietary treatments x4 replicates). Six experimental diets T 1 , T 2 , T 3, T 4, T 5 and T 6 were formulated to contain an additional 0, BMD @20mg, Lactobacillus acidophilus (10 6 and 10 7 cfu/g feed) and Bifidobacterium bifidi (10 6 and 10 7 cfu/g feed), respectively. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality were not (P>0.05) affected by dietary supplementation of probiotics. On 28d of age, antibody responses to inoculated sheep red blood cells were determined. Antibody titres were higher (P<0.05) after feeding probiotics (L. acidophilus) supplemented diets (T 3 and T 4 ). During 4 th week of age, the response to intra-dermally injected phytohaemagglutinin, an index of the in vivo cell-mediated immune response, increased in the groups fed on probiotic (L. acidophilus) supplemented diets. After 6 weeks, the three birds from each treatment group were sacrificed. Relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus were greater in broiler chickens given the probiotic supplemented diets but there was no effect on carcass traits, cut up parts and relative weights of organs among the dietary treatments. It was concluded that supplementing the diet with probiotic i.e., L. acidophilus (10 6 cfu/g feed) had a beneficial effect on immune responses but did not affect production performance and carcass traits in broiler chickens.