Skip to main content
Log in

Influence of supplementation of prebiotic, probiotic, and antibiotic to wet-fed wheat-based diets on growth, ileal nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and gastrointestinal characteristics of broiler chickens

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Comparative Clinical Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementations of prebiotic, probiotic, and antibiotic to wet wheat-based diets on broiler performance, carcass yield, organ weights, and histomorphological measurements of the small intestine. One hundred and sixty-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments for 6 weeks. The dietary treatments were: (1) control (1.2 g water/gram of dry feed); (2) control diet supplemented with antibiotic (15 mg/kg of virginiamycin); (3) control diet supplemented with 1 g/kg probiotic (8 × 105 colony forming units (CFU) of Bacillus subtilis/gram); and (4) control diet supplemented with 1 g/kg prebiotic (Aspergillus sp. meal). The body weight and feed intake were significantly (P < 0.05) increased by the dietary inclusion of the antibiotic compared with the control and pre- and probiotics-fed broilers. Moreover, an improvement in performance traits was observed in broilers fed with the pre- and probiotics. Relative abdominal fat weight was significantly (P < 0.01) greater for the broilers fed diets containing antibiotic than control diets. Protein digestibility was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for birds supplemented with virginiamycin compared with the control and prebiotic birds. The addition of either pre- or probiotic increased (P < 0.05) the villus height/crypt depth ratio and villus height in both duodenum and ileum. However, the ileal crypt depth was significantly increased for pro- and prebiotic supplementations compared with antibiotic (P < 0.05).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afsharmanesh M, Scott TA, Silversides FG (2006) A comparison of grinding processes and wet feeding of wheat-baesd diets on AME, production, and GIT development of broiler chicks. Can J Anim Sci 86:255–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Afsharmanesh M, Barani M, Silversides FG (2010) Evaluation of wet-feeding wheat-based diets with Saccharomyces cerevisiae to broiler chickens. Br Poult Sci 51:776–783

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson DB, Mccracken VJ, Aminov RI, Simpson JM, Mackie RI, Verstegen MWA, Gaskins HR (2000) Gut microbiology and growth-promoting antibiotics in swine. Nutr Abs Rev 70:101–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Annett CB, Viste JR, Chirino-Trejo M, Classen HL, Middleton DM, Simko E (2002) Necrotic enteritis: effect of barley, wheat and corn diets on proliferation of Clostridium perfringens type A. Avian Path 31:599–602

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • AOAC (1990) Official methods of analysis. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Aptekmann KP, Baraldi Arton SM, Stefanini MA, Orsi MA (2001) Morphometric analysis of the intestine of domestic quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) treated with different levels of dietary calcium. Anat Histol Embryol 30:277–280

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bezkorovainy A (2001) Probiotics: determinants of survival and growth in the gut. Am J Clin Nutr 73:399–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen ML (1992) Epidemiology of drug resistance: implications for a post-antimicrobial era. Science 257:1050

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corpet DE (1999) Mechanism of antimicrobial growth promoters used in animal feed. 23456 Comptes Rendus de l’Academie d’Agriculture de France. 85:197–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Crovetto GM, Tamburini A, Rapetti L, Boselli E (1993) Effect of including growth promoters in diets with different nutritive value for pigs. Atti del XX Meeting Annuale della Societa Italiana di Patologia ed Allevamento dei Suini, Parma. Italy. pp 135–140

  • Fioramonti J, Theodorou V, Buero L (2003) Probiotics: what are they? What are their effects on gut physiology? Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 17:711–724

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller R (1989) Probiotics in man and animals—a review. J Appl Bacteriol 66:365–378

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson GR, Roberfroid MB (1995) Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing the concept of prebiotics. J Nutr 125:1401–1412

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatemink R (1995) Non digestible oligosaccharides: healthy food for the colon. Proceedings Symposium Wageningen. 4–5 December, pp 1–177

  • Hedde RD, Lindsey TO (1986) Virginiamycin: a nutritional tool for swine production. Agric Prac 7:4

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillman K (2001) Bacteriological aspects of the use of antibiotics and their alternatives in the feed of non-ruminant animals. In: Garnsworthy PC, Wiseman J (eds) Recent advances in animal nutrition. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, pp 107–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Houdijk JGM, Bosch MW, Tamminga S, Verstegen MWA, Berenpas EJ (1998) Effects of dietary oligosaccharides on the growth performance and fecal characteristics of young growing pigs. Anim Feed Sci Technol 71:35–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houdijk JGM, Bosch MW, Tamminga S, Verstegen MWA, Berenpas EJ, Knoop H (1999) Apparent ileal and total tract nutrient digestion by pigs as affected by dietary non-digestible oligosaccharides. J Anim Sci 77:148–158

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Isolauri E, Joensuu J, Suomalainen H, Luomala H, Vesikari M (1995) Immunogenicity of oral D × RRV reassortant rotavirus vaccine by Lactobacillus casei GG. Vaccine 13:310–312

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Joy AD, Samuel JJ (1997) Effect of probiotic supplementation on the performance of broilers. J Vet Anim Sci 28:10–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalavathy R, Abdullah N, Jalaludin YWH (2003) Effect of lactobacillus cultures on growth performance, abdominal fat deposition, serum lipid and weight of organs of broiler chickens. Br Poult Sci 44:139–144

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kies A, Kiener T, Maillard R, Venuat M, Richard A, Herin JF (1991) Spiramycin: comparison with other growth promoters and influence on the true ileal digestibility. Journees de la Recherche Porcine en France 23:135–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Lessard M, Brisson GJ (1987) Effect of a Lactobacillus fermentation product on growth, immune response and fecal enzyme activity in weaned pigs. Can J Anim Sci 67:509–516

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohan B, Kadirvel R, Bhaskaran M, Natarajan A (1995) Effect of probiotic supplementation on serum/yolk cholesterol and on egg shell thickness in layers. Br Poult Sci 36:779–803

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (1994) Nutrient requirements of poultry, 9th edn. National Academy Press, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman MG (2002) Antibiotics resistance is a reality: novel techniques for overcoming antibiotic resistance when using new growth promoters. In: Nutritional Biotechnology in the Feed and Food Industries. Proceedings of Alltech’s 18th Annual Symposium. Nottingham University Press, Notthingham, pp 98–106

  • Niewold TA (2007) The nonantibiotic anti-inflammatory effect of antimicrobial growth promoters, the real mode of action? A hypothesis. Poult Sci 86:605–609

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pelicia K, Mendes AA, Saldanha ES, Piazzolante C, Takahashi S (2004) Probiotic and prebiotic utilization in diets for free-range broiler chickens. Br Poult Sci 92:99–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Pluske JR, Thompson MJ, Atwood CS, Bird PH, Williams IH, Hartmann PE (1996) Maintenance of villus height and crypt depth, and enhancement of disaccharide digestion and monosaccharide absorption, in piglets fed on cows’ whole milk after weaning. Br J Nutr 76:409–422

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Potter LM, Shelton JR (1984) Methionine, cystine, sodium sulfate and Fermacto-500 supplementation of practical-type diets for young turkeys. Poult Sci 63:987–992

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riddell C, Kong XM (1992) The influence of diet on necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. Avian Dis 36:499–503

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez TA, Sartor C, Higgins SE, Wolfenden AD, Bielke LR (2005) Effect of Aspergillus meal prebiotic (Fermcto) on performance of broiler chickens in the starter phase and fed low protein diets. J Appl Poult Res 14:665–669

    Google Scholar 

  • Rolfe RD (2000) The role of probiotic cultures in the control of gastrointestinal health. J Nutr 130:396–402

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahane MS (2001) Mannanoligosaccharides in poultry nutrition: mechanism and benefits. In: Lyons TP, Jacques KA (eds) Proceedings of Alltech’s 17th Annual Symposium Eds. Nottingham University Press, Notthingham, pp 65–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahin K, Kucuk O (2003) Zinc supplementation alleviates heat stress in laying Japanese quail. J Nutr 133:2808–2811

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sakamoto K, Hirose H, Onizuka A, Hayashi M, Futamura N, Kawamura Y, Ezaki T (2000) Quantitative study of changes in intestinal morphology and mucus gel on total parenteral nutrition in rats. J Surg Res 94:99–106

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santos U, Tanaka K, Ohtani S (1995) Effect of dried Bacillus subtilis culture on growth, body composition and hepatic lipogenic enzyme activity in female broiler chicks. Br J Nutr 74:523–529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sas Institute (1999) SAS user’s guide, version 8.0. Statistical Analysis System. SAS Institute Inc, Cary

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholten RHJ, Van Der Peet-Schwering CMC, Verstegen MWA, Den Hartog LA, Schrama JW, Vesseur PC (1999) Fermented co-products and fermented compound diets for pigs: a review. Anim Feed Sci Technol 82:1–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott TA (2002) Impact of wet feeding wheat-based diets with or without enzyme on broiler chick performance. Can J Anim Sci 82:409–417

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shamoto K, Yamauchi K (2000) Recovery responses of chick intestinal villus morphology to different refeeding procedures. Poult Sci 79:718–723

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xuan ZN, Kim JD, Heo KN, Jung HJ, Lee JH, Han YK, Kim YY, Han INK (2001) Study on the development of a probiotics complex for weaned pigs. Asian–Australasian. J Anim Sci 14:1425–1428

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yasar S, Forbes JM (1999) Performance and gastro-intestinal response of broiler chicks fed on cereal grain based foods soaked in water. Br Poult Sci 40:65–76

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Kerman University for financial support and Danaday Co. Ltd. for providing the enzyme and pre- and probiotics preparation samples.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Afsharmanesh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Afsharmanesh, M., Sadaghi, B. & Silversides, F.G. Influence of supplementation of prebiotic, probiotic, and antibiotic to wet-fed wheat-based diets on growth, ileal nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and gastrointestinal characteristics of broiler chickens. Comp Clin Pathol 22, 245–251 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-011-1393-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-011-1393-2

Keywords

Navigation