Effects of Compound Probiotics on Growth Performance, Intestinal Microflora and Immune Function of Broilers

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of compound probiotics on broiler performance, intestinal microflora, immune function and serum biochemical indicators. Four hundred one-d-old female broiler chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups with 4 replicates in each group and 25 chickens per replication. The chickens in groupI(control group) were fed a basal diet, experimental groups II, III and IVwere fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4% compound probiotics. The results of this work were as follows: (1) during the experimental period, compared with control group, the average daily in group III was significantly increased (P<0.05), the feed/gain and average daily feed intake were significantly lower (P<0.05); (2) at the age of 14 and 28 days, the number of cecal Lactic acid in group II and III were significantly higher than the control (P<0.05) and the content of E.coli has the opposite results. (3) the anti-body titer in group III was the highest, and significantly higher compared to the control (P<0.05), but there were no significantly differences between group IV and control group (P>0.05). (4) serum biochemical indexes of broilers in group III and IVwere significantly increased than that in control group (P<0.05). In conclusion, the supplementation of 0.2% compound probiotics could promote the growth performance, improve the cecal mico-ecosystem, enhance the anti-body titer and biochemical indexes in serum.