Development and Evaluation of a Commercial Direct-Fed Microbial (Zymospore®) on the Fecal Microbiome and Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens under Experimental Challenge Conditions

Abstract

Direct-fed microbials (DFM) are added to broiler chicken diets in order to promote the proliferation of beneficial intestinal bacterial populations, which may lead to gains in performance efficiency and, potentially, reduce the level of enteric pathogens in the broiler chickens. The selection and laboratory evaluation of Bacillus subtilis strains as well as the experimental trial results of a novel Bacillus-based commercial DFM product are described. Fifteen wild-type Bacillus subtilis strains were characterized and assayed for their enzyme production capability, spore resistance to pH, salinity, and temperature, and ability to inhibit the growth of E. coli and Salmonella spp. The final DFM formulation was evaluated and compared to an antibiotic growth promoter (AGPs) in two experimental trials. In Experiment 1, broilers were given a defined challenge of Eimeria spp. and Clostridium perfringens to induce intestinal dysbiosis. The optimal dose of the DFM was determined to be 0.3 kg/ton of feed. At this dose, the broilers fed the DFM performed as well as the Flavomycin®-fed broilers. Further, intestinal microbiome analysis indicates that the use of the DFM enhances bacterial diversity of the gut flora by day 5 of age, increasing levels of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Clostridiales by 25 days of age, which may enhance the digestion of feed and promote growth of the birds. In Experiment 2, the broilers were raised on recycled litter and given an undefined challenge orally to mimic commercial growth conditions. In this trial, the DFM performed as well as the bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD)-11%-fed birds. The results of the present studies suggest that this novel DFM, Zymospore®, improves the performance of broiler chickens under experimental challenge conditions as effective as an AGP, providing a safe and effective substitute to the poultry industry.

Advances on Probiotics Utilization in Poultry Health and Nutrition

“…These effects are attributed to the mechanisms mentioned earlier, which collectively lead to optimized nutrient utilization and enhanced growth rates. Zymospore® (Vetanco Brazil, B. subtilis), a commercially available direct-fed microbe, increased the bacterial variety of the broiler's gut microflora evidenced by heightened levels of lactic acid bacteria and clostridiales, thereby promoting feed digestion and growth, even under experimentally challenging conditions [18]. Broiler chickens given commercial probiotics (Lacto sacc, Alltech, Inc.) showed a considerable feed conversion ratio, as determined by Georgieva et al [19].…”

“…Improvement in feed intake, feed conversion ratio and body weight [18] Bacillus based triticale diet Increased feed intake, feed conversion ratio and weight gain along with cellular immunity [22] B. subtilis Improvement in intestinal digestibility coefficients for starch, crude protein, and overall gross energy…”

Альтернативні Методи Профілактики Інфекційних Хвороб Птиці

“…In scientific publications, it is noted that some of these live probiotic cultures began to be described by the general term «eubiotics», which is related to the Greek word «eubiosis», which means an optimal balance of microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract (El et The use of probiotics in poultry farming was considered as an alternative to antibiotics, which actively contributed to the development of beneficial intestinal microflora, suppress the growth of pathogens and thereby improve productivity. A large number of probiotic products are presented on the domestic drug market, which are offered to increase productivity, its health, well-being, and the production of safe and quality poultry products Poole et al, 2017;de Souza et al, 2022). A wide range of microorganisms: fungi and bacteria have been studied experimentally to determine their probiotic properties and effectiveness of use, however, only some of them are used by the pharmaceutical industry for the production of drugs and have reached the industry level of use (Bortoluzzi et al, 2019).…”