Effects of Alternative Administration Programs of a Synbiotic Supplement on Broiler Performance, Foot Pad Dermatitis, Caecal Microbiota, and Blood Metabolites

Abstract

This research investigated the effects of different synbiotic administration programs on broiler productive performance and foot pad dermatitis (FPD). Molecular insights on caecal microbiota and plasma metabolomics were also performed. - A total of 1000 one-day-old male chicks were grouped by the synbiotic treatment. The synbiotic was either sprayed as gel droplets onto newly hatched chicks at the hatchery (100 g/10,000 birds) or supplemented in-feed during the entire rearing period (1000, 500, and 250 g/ton according to feeding phase), or both. Only the treatments’ combination produced significant results in comparison with the control group (untreated), improving feed conversion ratio from 14 to 29 d and in the overall period of the trial (1.570 vs. 1.509 and 1.643 vs. 1.596, respectively; p < 0.05) while lowering FPD occurrence at slaughter (17% vs. 5%; p < 0.05). These findings can be related to significant variations of caecal microbiota, like higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio (with favorable implications for host’s energy-harvesting potential from the diet) and more beneficial microbial consortium presumably sustaining eubiosis. Overall, these results indicate that administering synbiotics through gel droplets at the hatchery combined to in-feed supplementation for the whole growing cycle positively affects broiler feed efficiency and welfare.

Nutritional Evaluation of Sago of Gebang Tree (Corypha utan Lamk) from Different Locations in West Timor - Indonesia for Broilers

“…This could be due to the low feed intake of broilers in this treatment ( Table 8). The result of the present experiment did not agree with Helda et al (2019) and Brugaletta et al (2020). The difference was probably due to the methodology implemented.…”

“…In the present study, synbiotics Probio FMplus was given to the birds only for 8 hours every day during the experimental period, while Helda et al (2019) offered the synbiotics Probio FMplus for 24 hours. Brugaletta et al (2020) used a different type of synbiotics (a microencapsulated synbiotics) included into their experimental diets, not through drinking water. In addition, the diets used in the present study were self-mixing diets.…”

Pilot Study on Poultry Meat from Antibiotic Free and Conventional Farms: Can Metagenomics Detect Any Difference?

“…There are different strategies to achieve antibiotic free poultry flocks such as the implementation of effective biosafety measures and management options as well as the promotion of beneficial microbes in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of chickens to enhance animal health and inhibit pathogen colonization. To this aim, feed can be supplemented with probiotics and prebiotics, and also blended in the same supplement (i.e., a symbiotic), to ensure diversity and stability of the GI microbial community, as well as positive interactions with the host's gastroenteric epithelium and immune system [4]. As an alternative, probiotics can also be supplemented in the litter and up taken by the animals [5].…”

Impact of Dietary or Drinking Water Ruminococcus sp. Supplementation and/or Heat Stress on Growth, Histopathology, and Bursal Gene Expression of Broilers

“…However, antibiotic growth promoters have side effects on human health due to drug resistance. Over the last 30 years, the way of considering the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of animals that produce food has been revolutionized ( 2 ). This new approach made us conscious of the anatomical system's true complexity in fulfilling digestive, absorptive, metabolic, immunological, and endocrinological roles ( 3 ), so gut health is very important in the livestock industry, and researchers ( 4 ) are coming up with a new approach in animal science ( 5 ).…”