Abstract
This study investigated dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis (BS) ATCC19659 on growth performance, biochemical indices, intestinal morphology, and cecum microflora in broiler chicks. A total of 600 Arbor 1-day Acres broilers of either sex were allotted to 5 treatments: chicks were fed a corn- and soybean-based diet (CON); chicks were fed basal diet containing 500 mg ZnB/kg (ZnB); chicks were fed basal diet containing 1 × 108 CFU/g feed of BS-ATCC19659 (BS-1); chicks were fed basal diet containing 3 × 108 CFU/g feed of BS-ATCC19659 (BS-3); and chicks were fed basal diet containing 5 × 108 CFU/g feed of BS-ATCC19659 (BS-5). Each treatment comprised 6 replicates with 20 birds for each replicate pen. Chicks in the BS-5 and BS-3 groups had higher body weight at the 21st and 42nd days and average daily gain from 1 to 21 days than that in the CON group (p < 0.05). Chicks in the BS-5 and ZnB groups had higher serum antioxidant activities and immunity response than those in the CON group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the liver mRNA abundance of GHR, TGF-β, IGF-1, IFN-γ, SOD, CAT, and GPX of chicks in three BS groups and the ileum villus length (μm) of chicks in BS-3 and ZnB groups was increased (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio of the ileum of chicks in the BS-5 and BS-3 groups and the crypt depth and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio of the jejunum in the BS-5 and ZnB groups were increased (p < 0.05). The abundance of the Cyanobacteria phyla in the cecum decreased in response to treatment with both BS-ATCC19659 and ZnB groups (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the cecum abundance of genera GCA-900066575 (Lachnospiraceae), Anaerofustis, and Papillibacter (Firmicutes phylum) in three BS groups were increased (p < 0.05); The abundance of genus Escherichia–Shigella reduced in the BS-3 group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the cecum abundance of genus Clostridia_unclassified in ZnB and BS-5 groups was decreased (p < 0.05) of broilers. Generally, Bacillus subtilis ATCC19659 as feed additive positively affected growth performance, immunity response, and cecal microflora of broilers.
Highlights
Antibiotics were used to eliminate poultry pathogens and promote growth performance and improve egg production
An increase in weight was observed at the 21st and 42nd days of broiler in response to dietary BS-3 and BS-5 groups compared to the CON and ZnB groups (p < 0.05)
The results showed that the heights of the villus length in the sections of the ileum were significantly increased with the BS-3 and ZnB groups (p < 0.05); the villus/crypt ratio was significantly higher in the BS-5 and BS-3 groups (p < 0.05) (Table 4)
Summary
Antibiotics were used to eliminate poultry pathogens and promote growth performance and improve egg production. Limiting antibiotics as growth enhancers in livestock production prompted a need to evaluate and present new alternatives to growth promoters (Tang et al, 2017) This is primarily to avoid pathogenic bacterial resistance to antibiotics and to meet the growing consumer consciousness about hazardous residues in poultry meat and eggs. Some viable alternatives to dietary antibiotics, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and organic acids, have been suggested in this regard to promote healthy flock productivity (Diaz-Sanchez et al, 2015; Suresh et al, 2018) Compared to antibiotics, these alternatives were characterized by natural environmental safety, no harmful residues accumulating in poultry eggs and meat, promoting a healthy gut microbiota and improving feed intake, feed conversion, and growth rate (Gadde et al, 2017)
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