EFFECTS OF LOCALLY ISOLATED PROBIOTICS AS ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTIC ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, HEMATOLOGICAL TRAITS AND CECAL MICROFLORA OF BROILER CHICKEN

Abstract

Increasing knowledge of bacterial resistance to antibiotics used in both human and veterinary medicine has contributed to development of perceptions in consumers that suitable alternatives to antibiotics must be identified. Probiotics have been recently documented to have beneficial effects on animal health and thus stand for a better alternative to antibiotics. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of drinking water supplementation of locally isolated probiotics on broiler growth performance, organ development, hematological profile and cecal microbial composition in replacing antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). A total of 320 one day old mixed sexed “Cobb 500” broiler chicks were allocated to 4 treatment groups in a complete randomized design (CRD) and each treatment was replicated 4 times with 20 chicks in each replicate. Treatments included (T1) the basal diet as a negative control; (T2) basal diet + doxycycline antibiotic via drinking water (2g/L) as a positive control; (T3) basal diet + probiotic I (Lactobacillus spp); (T4) basal diet + probiotic II (Bifidobacterium spp.). The results revealed that supplementation of probiotic I (Lactobacillus spp.) increased (P<0.05) body weight and decreased FCR but had no significant difference (P>0.05) in feed consumption, dressing percentage and survivability percentage. None of the weights of the heart, gizzard, spleen, bursa, and abdominal fat were influenced by supplemental probiotics (P>0.05), although improved liver weight was found by supplemented with probiotic I (P<0.05). Significant (P<0.05) improvements were also observed in Hb, RBC and WBC counts in probiotic supplemented group than the antibiotic and control group. In addition, DLCs, PCV, MCH, MCHC were not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments. The microbiological analysis indicated that the lactic acid bacterial population boosted predominantly. The total coliform and Salmonella counts were significantly reduced and Lactobacillus spp was significantly (P<0.05) increased supplemented with probiotic I and probiotic II compared with antibiotic and control group in the cecal contents of birds at day 28. The best performance was detected in birds of probiotic I group followed by the probiotic II, antibiotic and control group. Because of its remarkable efficacy it is concluded that, the use of mixed culture of Lactobacillus spp. could be considered as a good potential probiotic for broiler chickens and viable alternative to antibiotics in broiler diet at finisher stage and its benefits should be further evaluated on a commercial scale.