Effect of dietary probiotic supplementation on blood parameters, behavior and health performance of broilers

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) addition on behaviour, some health indicators and intestinal histology of broiler chickens. 210 one day old Broiler chicken was supplied by diets with probiotics at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.25 (0.25X), and 0.5 (0.5X) g/kg. Also,4 days old, blood samples were collected for measuring liver and kidney function tests, also microbial analysis, internal morphology, and relative and absolute weight of some internal organs were done. In comparison with control, probiotics had no significant effect on broiler chickens’ behavior, however, birds fed 0.25X had the highest percentage of feeding behavior among the experimental groups. Furthermore, probiotic treated groups had higher absolute weights of heart, spleen, liver, intestine and gizzard while the relative weights were not changed.  Also, the lactobacillus population increased while the total bacterial count decreased in probiotic-fed groups. Moreover, probiotics increased duodenum villus width and height and enhanced jejunum villus width, height, and villus height/crypt depth. In addition, it did not affect the levels of total, indirect and direct bilirubin, albumin, total protein, globulin, and albumin: globulin ratio and alkaline phosphatase regardless of its dose. The findings imply that the probiotic dietary supplement effect based on its dose and that probiotic (Clostat ™) improved broilers health under normal condition and may prove to be an important way for possibly protection the health of broiler chickens.