Effects of fermented soybean meal, probiotics and organic acids on intestinal morphology, pH and microbial count in broilers

Abstract

The study was conducted to compare the effects of fermented soybean meal (FSBM), probiotics and organic acids in the diet of broiler chicken on intestinal morphology, pH and microbial count. A total of 160, day-old Vencobb 430Y broiler chicks were randomly selected and divided into five treatments with four replicates of eight birds each. The dietary treatment groups were as follows: T1 - basal diet with corn-soybean meal (control); T2 - control diet with 100 per cent replacement of soybean meal by FSBM; T3 - control diet supplemented with 0.05 per cent probiotics; T4 - control diet supplemented with 0.1 per cent organic acids; T5 - control diet supplemented with both probiotics and organic acids. The results indicated significant (p<0.01) improvement in the duodenal and jejunal morphology of birds in terms of villi height, crypt depth and their ratio in all the experimental groups. There was significant (p<0.01) reduction in ileal E. coli and coliform count in broilers of all the experimental groups compared to the control group. All the experimental diets significantly increased (p<0.01) the lactic acid bacteria count in ileum of broilers. Ileal pH was significantly (p<0.01) lowered in all the experimental groups compared to control group. In this study, the dietary inclusion of FSBM showed better improvement in intestinal morphology and microbial balance compared to control, probiotic and organic acids supplemented groups and at par with that of combination of probiotic and organic acids group.