This study was conducted to investigate the effects of probiotic (Primalac), prebiotic (TechnoMos) and synbiotic (Primalac + TechnoMos) supplementation on performance, immune responses, intestinal morphology and bacterial populations of ileum in broilers. A total of 240 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatment groups which included 60 birds. Control group did not receive any treatment. The chicks in the second, third and fourth groups were fed probiotic (0.9 g/kg), prebiotic (0.9 g/kg) and probiotic (0.9 g/kg) plus probiotic (0.9 g/kg; synbiotic), respectively, at entire period. Daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were evaluated. The birds were immunized by sheep red blood cell (SRBC) on days 12 and 29 of age and serum antibody titres were measured on days 28, 35 and 42. Newcastle vaccines administered on days 9, 18 and 27 to chicks and blood samples were collected on day 42. Intestinal morphometric assessment and enumeration of intestinal bacterial populations were performed on day 42. The results indicated that consumption of probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic had no significant effect on daily feed intake, daily body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass traits, intestinal morphology and bacterial populations of ileum (p > 0.05). Consumption of prebiotic increased total and IgM anti-SRBC titres on days 28 and 42 and antibody titre against Newcastle virus disease on day 42 (p < 0.05). Synbiotic increased only total anti-SRBC on day 28 (p < 0.05). It is concluded that consumption of prebiotic increased humoral immunity in broilers. Therefore, supplementation of diet with prebiotic for improvement of humoral immune responses is superior to synbiotic supplementation.

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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of lemon balm (LB; Melissa officinalis L.) extract as additive on performance, health status and carcass traits of broilers during a 42-days production cycle. One hundred mixed chicks of Ross 308 strain were assigned for five dietary treatments with four replicates per group and five birds per replicate as follows: control diet, 0.5LB, 1.0LB, 1.5LB and 2.0LB with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 mL of LB extract per liter of drinking water, respectively. In overall, at 42nd day, low feed, energy and protein efficiency (P＜0.05) were observed in 1.0LB group than in control diet. However, during the 3rd and 5-6th weeks, feed, energy and protein intakes were improved (P＜0.05), without any efficiency enhancement (P＞0.05) mainly in group on 1.0LB diet. During the 5th week of rearing, daily weight gain was higher (P＜0.05) in groups 0.5LB, 1.0LB and 2.0LB compared to control diet. At the end of feeding period, cecal enterococcus bacteria colony count was higher (P＜ 0.05) and left cecum diameter was lower (P＜0.05) in 1.0LB group. Hematological parameters and viscera and carcass traits remained unaffected (P＞0.05) by dietary treatments. In conclusion, the supplementation with LB as natural feed additive resulted in a potential positive effect on broilers performance mainly during the grower and finisher periods.

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