Effects of the Combination Feeding of β-glucan and Multi-species Probiotics on Growth Performance and Microflora in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to investigate the combination feeding of β-glucan and multi-species probiotics on growth performance, various lipid concentrations of serum, antibody production and cecal microbial profiles in broiler chicks. A total of six hundred 1-d-old male broiler chicks were divided into five groups, placed into four pens per group (30 birds per pen) and fed one of five non-medicated experimental diets (T1, 0.15% multi-species probiotics; T2, 0.1% β-glucan + 0.15% multi-species probiotics; T3, 0.3% multi-species probiotics; T4, 0.1% β-glucan + 0.3% probiotics or devoid them as control) for 5 wk. There was no significant difference in feed intake among the groups. The average weight gains and FCR in groups fed diet containing 0.3% probiotics were significantly improved (p<0.05) than control in finisher period (22-35d). The concentration of serum cholesterol ester in groups fed 0.3% probiotics were significantly lowered (p<0.05) as compared to that of the control. Relative weights of liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius, breast and leg were not influenced by the dietary treatments. The average ND or IB antibody titers in groups fed diets containing β-glucan and probiotics were tended to be increased, but not significantly. The number of cecal lactic acid bacteria was significantly increased (p<0.05) by the dietary β-glucan and probiotics. These results indicated that dietary β-glucan and probiotics exerted a growthpromoting and immune-enhancing effects on broiler chicks. In addition, yeast derived β-glucan, and multi-species probiotics modulated the profiles of cecal microflora, reflecting potential alternative substances to replace antibiotics for feeding broiler.