Effect of organic acids or probiotics alone or in combination on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, enzyme activities, intestinal morphology and gut microflora in broiler chickens

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of organic acids or probiotics alone or in combination on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, enzyme activity, intestinal morphology and gut microflora in broiler chickens (Ross308). A completely randomized design was used, with 1,440 broiler chicks across four treatments and five replications of 72 chicks each. The chicks in the control treatment were fed on a control diet (CD), whereas for the other treatment groups, the CD was supplemented with 0.2 g/kg organic acids (CDOA), probiotics (CDP) or a combination of organic acids and probiotics (CDOAP). All the chicks were fed ad libitum during the feeding trial throughout 35 days. A total of 20 chicks were randomly allotted to individual metabolic cages to measure the nutrient digestibility (35-42 days) and the digestive enzyme activities (42 days). The intestinal morphology and gut microflora of 80 chicks were examined at the end of experiment. There were no significant (p > .05) differences in the feed intake, body weight gain or feed conversion ratio of the chicks across the four dietary treatments. The crude fibre digestibility was significantly increased in chicks fed on CDOA or CDOAP relative to CD (p < .05). Nutrient utilization, in terms of digestive enzyme activities and excreta thermal property, was unchanged by any supplementation. The chicks fed on the CDOAP had significantly higher duodenal villi height and crypt depth than the chicks fed on CDOA (p < .05). This dietary treatment dramatically improved gut microflora by decreasing the population of Escherichia coli and increasing the Lactobacillus spp.:E. coli ratio. Based on our investigations, supplementation of organic acids and probiotics in chick diets can increase the ability to digest crude fibre and villus height and decrease intestinal E. coli without impairing growth performance.

Administration of Fermented Averrhoa bilimbi L. Fruit Filtrate on Growth, Hematological, Intestinal, and Carcass Indices of Broilers

“…This present finding was in accordance with Agboola et al (2015), who documented that dietary supplementation of organic acid (formic and propionic acids), probiotics (Lactobacillus sporogenes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or the blends of both increased villi height and crypt depth of broiler intestine. Similarly, Rodjan et al (2018) showed that feeding the blends of organic acid and probiotics resulted in higher duodenal villi height and crypt depth when compared with control. Considering the essential role of villus and crypt in the absorption process, our findings therefore suggested that fermented A. bilimbi L. fruit filtrate improved the absorptive capacity of experimental broilers.…”

“…The mechanism by which the fermented fruit filtrate reduced intestinal population of Enterobacteriaceae was not exactly known, but it seemed that the presences of organic acids and lactic acid were responsible for the antibacterial activity of the fermented fruit filtrate. Rodjan et al (2018) noticed that dietary supplementation of organic acids, probiotics, or combination of both improved the intestinal bacterial ecology by decreasing intestinal population of Escherichia coli and increasing lactic acid bacteria counts. Yet, our treatment did not substantially affect the population of lactic acid bacteria in the intestine of experimental broilers, which was in accordance to Agboola et al (2015) showing no effect of organic acids, probiotics, or combination of both on intestinal lactic acid bacteria counts.…”

“…Recently, nutritionists have combined organic acids and probiotics to improve their efficacy as AGP alternatives. Rodjan et al (2018) documented that the blends of organic acids and probiotics resulted in a better intestinal morphology relative to the administration of organic acid or probiotic alone. Other studies also reported that combination of butyric acid and probiotic Bacillus subtilis was attributed to a better weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion in chickens when compared with the single administration of butyric acid or probiotic (Widiastuti et al, 2019).…”

The Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Intestinal Protective Effects of Baicalin-Copper in Deoxynivalenol-Challenged Piglets

“…Third, microscopes were used to observe the samples, and computer-aided systems were used to photograph the samples. Finally, an image analysis system was used to measure villi length and crypt length [23,24].…”

Supplemental Bacillus subtilis DSM 29784 and enzymes, alone or in combination, as alternatives for antibiotics to improve growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, anti-oxidative status, immune response and the intestinal barrier of broiler chickens

“…The use of probiotics in broiler diets is a strategy that can improve diversity and stability of the intestinal microbiota, immunomodulation, competition for adhesion sites and the production of antimicrobial agents resulting in improved broiler performance (12)(13)(14) . In addition, accumulating studies indicate that probiotics exert beneficial effects on body anti-oxidative capacity, digestive enzymes and nutrient absorption and decrease cell apoptosis, which finally favours the gut health and production performance of broilers (15)(16)(17)(18) . Among many bacterial species used as probiotics, spore-forming Bacillus spp.…”