AUTHOR=Zou Qiangqiang , Meng Weishuang , Wang Tieliang , Liu Xiao , Li Desheng 

TITLE=Effect of multi-strain probiotics on the performance of AA+ male broilers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1098807

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.1098807

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effects of a probiotic complex (PC) consisting of <italic>Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium butyricum</italic> and <italic>Enterococcus faecalis</italic> on productive performance, carcass traits, immune organ indices, fecal microbiota counts and noxious gas emissions in AA+ male broilers. Three hundred and sixty 1-day-old AA+ male broilers with similar body weight (44.77 ± 0.25) were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups of 6 replicates each, with 20 broilers in each replicate. The experimental groups consisted of a group fed a basal diet and groups fed basal diet supplemented with 0.1 and 0.2% PC. The results showed that the addition of PC had no significant effect (<italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05) on growth performance, and carcass traits of AA+ broilers during the experimental period (1–42 days of age). Dietary addition of PC significantly increased the thymus index of AA+ broilers (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05), reduced the number of <italic>E. coli</italic> and <italic>Salmonella</italic> in feces (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.01) and reduced the concentrations of fecal NH<sub>3</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>S emissions (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.01). Furthermore, birds fed 0.2% PC diet had the highest number of fecal <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> counts. Results indicate that probiotic complex consisting of <italic>Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium butyricum</italic> and <italic>Enterococcus faecalis</italic> enhances immune organ development, reduces the number of <italic>E. coli</italic> and <italic>Salmonella</italic> in feces, increases the number of <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> and reduces NH<sub>3</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>S emissions in feces. This trial provides a theoretical basis for the use of probiotic complexes in broiler production.</p>