Single and Combined Effects of Clostridium butyricum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on Growth Indices, Intestinal Health, and Immunity of Broilers

Abstract

Simple SummaryAfter banning the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in poultry production, scientists had to find efficient and safe alternatives. Because of their useful properties, two types of probiotic bacteria were chosen to be administrated in a broiler diet, either individually or combined. Useful effects were obtained regarding improvements of growth performance, and immunity.AbstractA total of 120 1-day-old commercial Cobb chicks were used to study the effects of Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) and/or Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) on growth performance, intestinal health, and immune status in broilers. The experimental groups were as follows: G1; basal diet (BD), G2; basal diet (BD) plus C. butyricum preparation at 0.5 g/kg diet, G3; BD plus S. cerevisiae preparation at 0.5 g/kg diet, G4; BD plus 0.25 g/kg C. butyricum preparation plus 0.25 g/kg S. cerevisiae. Results showed that the total body weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and protein efficiency ratio were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the G4 group than in the other groups. The mortality percentage was reduced in the probiotic-supplemented groups. The villi height was elongated, and the villus height/crypt depth ratio was significantly increased in G2 and G4 chicks, compared to those in the control. The crypt depth was significantly decreased in all the probiotic-supplemented groups. Hemagglutination inhibition titers for Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were markedly increased in G2 and G4 chicks at 35 days of age, compared to those in G3 and control chicks. These results showed that dietary supplementation of a combined mixture of C. butyricum and S. cerevisiae in an equal ratio (G4) was more effective in improving growth performance, immune status, and gut health of broilers, compared with individual supplementation at a full dose.

Effects of Different Probiotics on Laying Performance, Egg Quality, Oxidative Status, and Gut Health in Laying Hens

“…In the present study, diets supplemented with C. butyricum or a combination of S. boulardii and P. acidilactici were examined. Diets supplemented with C. butyricum reduced ADFI and increased feed conversion, which is similar to the results in broilers in Mervat et al [32]. However, the combination of probiotics had no effect on laying performance.…”

Effects of Clostridium butyricum- and Bacillus spp.-Based Potential Probiotics on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Immune Responses, and Caecal Microbiota in Broilers

“…Clostridium butyricum produces butyric acid and provides energy to the intestinal epithelium, decreases intestinal pH, and preserves the intestinal environment [ 6 ]. Research confirms that C. butyricum has beneficial effects on lipid metabolism, immune function, and culturable microbiota [ 7 , 8 ] and protects broilers from intestinal infections [ 9 ]. Gao et al (2012) reported that oral administration of C. butyricum , as a promising probiotic, promoted individual performance [ 10 ].…”

Effects of Wheat Bran and Clostridium butyricum Supplementation on Cecal Microbiota, Short-Chain Fatty Acid Concentration, pH and Histomorphometry in Broiler Chickens

“…It can survive low pH and high bile concentrations. Clostridium butyricum seems to be a promising probiotic to provide protection against intestinal infections [11], and some reports show beneficial effects of C. butyricum strains on growth performance, lipid metabolism, immune function and culturable microbiota [12,13]. Although wheat bran and C. butyricum supplementations have been investigated from various aspects in broilers at slaughter age, little information is available on the effects of wheat bran using culture-independent methods [5,[14][15][16].…”