Effects of Bacillus subtilis on Production Performance, Bone Physiological Property, and Hematology Indexes in Laying Hens

Abstract

This study was to investigate the effects of Bacillus subtilis on production performance and bone pathophysiological characteristics of layers. Twenty-four 48-week-old Lohmann Pink-shell laying hens were randomly divided into two groups: a basic diet (control) and the basic diet mixed with Bacillus subtilis (0.5 g/kg) for a 60-day trial. Statistically, independent-sample t-test was used to assess the treatment differences. The results showed that Bacillus subtilis supplementation improved the percent of marketable eggs (p < 0.05) with reduced numbers of broken and soft-shelled eggs but had no effects on egg weight, height of albumen, yolk color, and Haugh unit (p > 0.05). Bacillus subtilis supplement also elevated maximum load (p = 0.06), maximum stress (p = 0.01), stiffness (p < 0.01), and Young’s modulus (p < 0.01) but suppressed maximum strain (p = 0.06) in the femur. In addition, compared with control birds, phosphorous concentration (p < 0.01) was reduced in serum at day 61 but increased in the femur (p < 0.05) in Bacillus subtilis fed birds. Bacillus subtilis fed birds also had lower magnesium concentrations in both femur (p = 0.04) and feces (p = 0.09). Furthermore, Bacillus subtilis increased plasma estrogen concentration (p = 0.01) and femur TNF receptor superfamily member 11b (OPG) expression (p < 0.05) but reduced plasma IL-1 (p < 0.01) and TNF-α (p < 0.01) concentrations. These results indicate that Bacillus subtilis could be used as a health promotor to reduce overproduction-induced inflammation and associated bone damage and to increase marketable egg production. The data provide evidence for developing a management strategy to use Bacillus subtilis as a feed additive to improve marketable egg production and health and welfare status of laying hens.

Lysinibacillus macroides 38328, a potential probiotics strain, enhances antioxidant capacity and avian influenza virus vaccine immune response in laying hens

“…This phenomenon represented larger number saleable eggs and thus higher economic bene ts in poultry farming. Nevertheless, the egg quality has got a signi cant improvement by improving important indexes including shell strength, albumen height and Haugh unit of eggs according to our results, which is on the contrary to results gained by Zou et al (2021), as they concluded that there were no treatment effects on the height of albumen, yolk color, Haugh unit, egg shell thickness, and strength as well as eggs' shape index with Bacillus subtilis supplementation. Thereinto, egg shell strength is a vital evaluation index of egg quality.…”

Low Ca diet leads to increased Ca retention by changing the gut flora and ileal pH value in laying hens

“…All ashed samples were dissolved in 65% guaranteed reagent nitric acid, then diluted up to 50 mL using ultra-pure water. Ca, P and Mg content alyses were determined by using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) (iCAP 7000 SERIES, Thermo, USA) ( Zou et al., 2021 ). The Ca retention was calculated according to the following formula: Ca retention ratio = (Ca intake – Ca in excrement)/Ca intake × 100%.…”

“…Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Ca and P ( n = 12/treatment) were analyzed using an automatic biochemistry analyzer (Olympus AU400, Japan), and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) was analyzed via a TRACP Assay Kit (Shanghai Biyuntian Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China) by following the instructions provided by the company. The plasma IL-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 ), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin (CT), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), D-lactic acid (D-LA) and estradiol (E2) levels ( n = 12/treatment) were measured using ELISA kits following the instructions provided by the company (Xiamen Huijia Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Fujian, China) ( Zou et al., 2021 ).…”

Effects of Supplementation with different levels of a multi strain probiotic on the performance of laying chicken

“…In addition, Bidura et al, (2019) reported a significant increase of Ca content of eggshell by 17.28% and 16.85% when 0.20% and 0.30% Saccharomyces spp were incorporated in ducks' diet respectively. Increase mineral content of eggshell could be attributed to probiotic efficacy in increasing intestinal Ca and P availability, absorption and eventual deposition in eggshells (Zou et al, 2021). It has however been reported that calcium and phosphorus mineral salts require a low pH for solubility which was further enhanced by probiotic supplementation leading to ionization of the minerals and eventual absorption and deposition in eggshells (Soetan et al, 2010;Likittrakulwong et al, 2021).…”