ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effects of dietary supplementation of synbiotics and phytobiotics on performance, caecal coliform population and some oxidant/antioxidant parameters of broilers

Abstract

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of synbiotics and phytobiotics on performance, small intestine weight, pH and caecal coliform counts of broilers. The influences of synbiotics and phytobiotics on oxidant/antioxidant status in the blood of broilers were also assessed. A total of 200 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments, either fed a basal diet or the same diet supplemented with 1 g/kg synbiotic, 1 g/kg phytobiotic or 1 g/kg synbiotic plus 1 g/kg phytobiotic. The diet supplemented with both synbiotic and phytobiotic had no effect on body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency of broilers at the end of the study (p > 0.05). Neither small intestine weight nor pH was affected by any of the treatments. Supplementation of both synbiotic and phytobiotic to diet decreased the caecal coliform count (p < 0.01). Addition of synbiotics and phytobiotics in combination significantly increased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p ≤ 0.05), whereasphytobiotic addition alone showed only a slight increase. Similarly, elevated nitric oxide (NO) level was recorded in the synbiotic- and phytobiotic-fed group and in the phytobiotic-fed group (p ≤ 0.001). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of synbiotic and phytobiotic improved the gut health by decreasing the caecal total coliform count, but growth performance was not affected by the supplementations. Further investigations are needed to determine the effects of phytobiotics on oxidative/antioxidative metabolism as regards their compositional analysis.

Effects of a phytogenic feed additive on growth performance, selected blood<br>criteria and jejunal morphology in broiler chickens

“…These results are consistent with the studies of Jang et al (2007) and Erdogan et al (2010), who did not find effects of different phytogenic compounds on broiler growth performance. However, FCR was significantly improved in the present study.…”

Effect of Two Strains of Probiotics on the Antioxidant Capacity, Oxidative Stress, and Immune Responses of Salmonella-Challenged Broilers

“…Serum TAC, SOD, and H 2 O 2 values were similar (p>0.05) among all groups, suggesting that neither S. typhimurium challenge nor probiotics had an impact on total antioxidant capacity or oxidative stress. These results agree with Erdoğan et al (2010),who concluded that the probiotics tested did not promote any significant improvement in the oxidant/antioxidant status in broilers. On the other hand, several other reports provided evidence that probiotics positively modulate the dynamics of oxidants and antioxidants in the body of chickens, Japanese quails, and rats (Lin and Yen, 1999;Sahin et al, 2004;Yadav et al, 2007;Sohail et al, 2011).…”

Synbiotic as Feed Additives Relating to Animal Health and Performance

“…First of these studies, reported no significant differences in crude ash, moisture, crude proteins and crude lipids contents among all the experimental groups. Contrary to our finding, Jung [110] and Erdogan [111] reported that the diet supplemented with synbiotic had no effect on feed intake, body weight, feed conversion efficiency and weight gain, of broilers. The final body weight, feed conversion efciency, weight gain were significantly higher in synbiotic supplemented broilers compared with the control group [97].…”