Use of probiotics to replace antibiotics for broilers

Abstract

-This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation of probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium and Bifidubacterium bifidum) and antibiotics (flavomicina and staquinol) on diets for broilers from 1 to 42 days of age, reared in clean (new litter) and challenged (reused litter) environments. A total of 768 one-day-old male broilers of the Cobb 500 strain were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement (2 litter types × 4 diets), totaling eight treatments with eight replications and 16 poultry per experimental unit. The results of performance and carcass characteristics were submitted to analysis of variance using the Studen Newman Keuls test at 0.05 probability. In the period of 1-21 days of age, the supplementation with probiotics for poultry raised in the new litter reduced feed intake, whereas in those raised in reused litter, the diet free of growth promoter showed a lower consumption. Poultry from 1 to 42 days raised in new litter had lower feed intake when supplemented with probiotics. Other results of performance and carcass yield were not affected. For the poultry raised in reused litter, the use of probiotics resulted in lower thigh yield and higher liver yield. The use of different growth promoters in feed for broilers does not influence the performance of poultry raised in new or reused litter. The use of probiotic promotes lower feed intake without compromising the performance, regardless of the type of litter used, demonstrating the feasibility of using this product as substitute for antibiotics.

Comparison Study of a Natural Non-Antibiotic Growth Promoter and a Commercial Probiotic on Growth Performance, Immune Response and Biochemical Parameters of Broiler Chicks

“…Therefore, the beneficial effects of a particular probiotic are strictly dependent on characteristics and quantity of microorganism strains used in the probiotic preparation (Tournut, 1998). The result of the current study is in accordance with findings of other reports (Takahashi et al, 2005;Nunes et al, 2012).…”

Comparison of the effects of basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i>) essential oil, avilamycin and protexin on broiler performance, blood biochemistry and carcass characteristics

“…Azadegan Mehr et al (2014) found no significant differences in carcass traits among a medicinal plant group, a probiotic group, and a control group. Similar results were observed in the study of Nunes et al (2012) with addition of probiotics to broiler diets. Antimicrobial properties of basil essential oil ingredients such as methyl chavicol and α-pinene have been shown in various papers (Sokovic and van Griensven, 2006;Hanif et al, 2011).…”

“…The results showed that probiotics did not have any significant effect on performance in different periods. According to Nunes et al (2012), probiotics do not always have positive outcomes in relation to weight gain and feed conversion of poultry; this is due to several variables, such as poultry health, duration of poultry house downtime and environmental contamination levels.…”

Acidification of Broiler Feeds in Relation to Bone Chemical and Biophysical Traits

“…Better performance of broilers fed organic acids or their salts was explained by many authors; as nutrient utilization was improved, gut surface was enlarged and potential pathogens were counteracted (Lückstädt and Millor, 2011;Papatsirous and Billinis, 2012;El-Naggar and Abo El-Maaty, 2017). Regarding probiotics, there were similar observations reported by Nunes et al (2012) who stated no statistically beneficial effects of dietary probiotic supplementation on BWG of broilers from 1 to 42 days of age. Whereas, Shabani et al (2012), reported improved FCR of birds up to 42 days of age upon supplementing diets with different types of probiotics.…”