Effects of prebiotics on intestinal histo-morphometry and gut microflora status of broiler chickens

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of prebiotics on intestinal histo-morphometry and gut health status of broiler chickens. A total number of 240 day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six dietary treatment groups having five replicates each with eight birds per replicate for six weeks. A basal corn-soybean diet was formulated that served as control (T1). The rest five test dietary treatments were prepared by adding antibiotic (bacitracin methylene di-salicylate-BMD at 0.002% of diet (T2), prebiotics i.e., mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) at 0.1% or 0.2% (T3 and T4) and fructo oligosaccharides (FOS) at 0.1% or 0.2% (T5, T6 respectively) with basal diet. Total anaerobes counts were significantly (P LESS THAN 0.05) reduced at 21 and 42 d at ileum in T2, T3 and T4 groups whereas, coliforms count were reduced (P LESS THAN 0.05) in T2 and T3 groups. However, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count were significantly (P Less than 0.05) increased in T3 and T4 groups but lactobacillus count were increased (P less than 0.05) in only T3 group at 21 and 42 d in ileum. Villus height (VH) and width (VW) were significantly increased (P less than 0.05) at 21d and 42 d in T3 and T4 groups, whereas, at 21 d, crypt depth (CD) were increased (P less than 0.05) in T3 and T4 groups but at 42 d, CD were significantly improved in T3 and T4 or T5 and T6 groups. No significant (P>0.05) differences were observed in ratio between VH and CD at 21d or 42 d. Thus, it might he concluded that 0.1% or 0.2% MOS inclusion in basal diet improved intestinal histo-morphometry and gut health in broiler chickens and it is a better alternate feed additive to replacement of antibiotic growth promoter.