Gut Micro-flora, Serum Bio-markers, and Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed Supplemental Levels of Bacillus protease

Abstract

To maintain a high quality and low fibre content of broiler feeds may require an external influence, such as the Bacillus protease to overcome some of the potential limitations imposed by vegetable protein diets. There is paucity of information on serum biomarkers, and gut micro-flora composition of chickens fed dietary Bacillus protease. The objective was to test the effect of dietary Bacillus protease inclusion on gut micro-flora, serum bio-markers, and growth traits of chicken. A total of 300day -old -Cobb 500‖ chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments with five replicates of 12 birds each. The treatments include; PROT0 (0 g/kg; control), PROT10 (1 g/kg), PROT15 (1.5 g/kg), PROT20 (2 g/kg) and PROT25 (2.5 g/kg). The results showed that serum protein and albumin increased (p<0.05) while aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) decreased (p<0.05), as the amount of Bacillus protease increased. Bacteria population did not differ (p>0.05). Daily feed intake and the feed intake at starter phase, finisher phase, and overall phase decreased (p<0.05) as the levels of protease increased. Birds fed PROT25 had the highest (p<0.05) weight gain and a better feed conversion ratio (FCR) throughout the feeding trial. It was concluded that 2.5g/kg Bacillus protease can be safely included for improved weight gain, FCR, carcass yield, retail cut yields and overall health status of chickens.