This study examined the influence of fermented rapeseed meal (FRSM) on the intestinal morphology and gut microflora of broiler chickens. Limited information is available on the effects of FRSM on the intestinal morphology and the gastrointestinal microbiome population of animals. First, 48 21-day Ross 308 broilers were placed in metabolic cages and randomly assigned to four experimental groups. Group I birds were negative controls and received no additive. Group II birds were positive controls and received a 3% addition of unfermented rapeseed meal. Group III birds received a 3% addition of rapeseed meal fermented with the Bacillus subtilis 67 bacterial strain. Group IV birds received a 3% addition of rapeseed meal fermented with the B. subtilis 87Y strain. After 23 days of experimental feeding, the contents of the birds’ ceca were collected for microorganism determination. The histomorphology of the broilers’ ceca was also determined, and beneficial changes were found in the histology of the broilers’ ceca with the additives. Moreover, these materials inhibited the growth of pathogens and significantly stimulated the growth of probiotic bacteria. These results suggest that the addition of 3% FRSM has a potential probiotic effect and can be used as a material in feed for broilers.
Bacillus subtilis strain 87Y, isolated from the earthworm Eisenia fetida, decreases the growth of pathogenic Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus and promotes the growth of probiotic Lactococcus spp. Preserving viability in acidic conditions as well as in bile salts, B. subtilis 87Y meets two of the requirements of a probiotic strain. Thanks to the production of the biosurfactant surfactin, B. subtilis 87Y limits the growth of the Gram-positive bacterium S. aureus. In the presence of sucrose, B. subtilis produces levan, which contributes to promoting the growth of other probiotics. Our in vitro studies justify the continuation of enriching rapeseed meal waste from solid-state fermentation with B. subtilis 87Y, to produce high-value animal feed supplements.
Hemicellulose is the second most abundant plant heterogenous biopolymer. Among products obtained from a wide range of agro-residues, biosurfactants, e.g., surfactin (SU), are gaining increasing interest. Our previous studies have shown that a Bacillus subtilis strain can successfully produce a significant amount of SU using a rapeseed cake. This work aimed to investigate plant hemicellulose components as substrates promoting SU's efficient production by B. subtilis 87Y. Analyses of SU production, enzymatic activity and cell wall composition of hulled oat caryopses suggest that the main ingredients of plant hemicellulose, in particular xylan and its derivatives, may be responsible for an increased biosurfactant yield.
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