Effect of multi-strain probiotics on production performance, gut health and nutrient utilization of broilers fed poultry by-products meal diet.

Authors: AHMAD, UMAIR - Agricultural University Peshawar; SULTAN, ASAD - Agricultural University Peshawar; SHUAIB, MUHAMMAD - Central Arid Zone Research Institute; ATIF, MUHAMMAD - Agricultural University Peshawar; ALQHTANI, ABDULMOHSEN - King Saud University; Pokoo-Aikins, Anthony; ULLAH, OBAID - University Of Poonch Rawalakot; SIDDIQUI, SHAHROOD - Livestock And Fisheries Department Government Of Sindh

Submitted to: Italian Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2024
Publication Date: 8/23/2024
Citation: Ahmad, U., Sultan, A., Shuaib, M., Atif, M., Alqhtani, A.H., Pokoo-Aikins, A., Ullah, O., Siddiqui, S.A. 2024. Effect of multi-strain probiotics on production performance, gut health and nutrient utilization of broilers fed poultry by-products meal diet.. Italian Journal of Animal Science. 23, 1250-1257. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2391084.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2391084

Interpretive Summary: This study tested the potential of a commercial probiotic mixture and poultry by-product meal-based diet on broiler performance, gut health, and nutrient usage. 320 broiler chicks were used. The chicks were divided into four treatment groups. Each group had four replicates. The positive control group (CON) was fed commercial poultry ration. The negative control group (N-CON) was fed poultry by-product meal (PBM) that partially replaced soybean meal (SBM) at 6.5% level. Multi-strain probiotics were administered at 50 mg/kg (MSP1) and at 100 mg/kg (MSP2) in groups containing the same diet of the N-CON group. Overall, N-CON group performed poorly, but the addition of probiotics to the same diet improved performance. Weight gain and feed efficiency were improved by multi-strain treatments MSP1 and MSP2 compared to N-CON. The highest weight gain was observed in MSP2 and lowest in N-CON group. The probiotics increased gut surface length, width and surface area compared to non-supplemented groups. Breakdown of dry matter and protein were improved in supplemented groups compared to N-CON. In conclusion, PBM at a 6.5% level, successfully replaced SBM with probiotic supplementation without affecting the health of the meat type birds.

Technical Abstract: This study assesses the potential of a commercial probiotic mixture on performance, gut health, and nutrient utilization of broilers-fed poultry by-product meal-based diet. Three-hundred-and-twenty-day-old broiler chicks (Ross-308) were procured from a commercial hatchery and randomly assigned to four different treatment groups, each consisting of four replicates (n=10) in a completely randomized design. The Positive control group (CON) was fed commercial poultry ration, The Negative control group (N-CON) was fed poultry by-product meal (PBM) partially replacing soybean meal at 6.5% level, MSP1 and MSP2 groups contained the same diet of the N-CON group but supplemented with multi-strain probiotics (MSP) at 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg. Overall N-CON group performed poorly, but the addition of probiotics to the same diet significantly improved performance. Weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were improved (P<0.05) by multi-strain probiotics supplementation in MSP1 and MSP2 groups compared to N-CON. The highest weight gain was observed in MSP2 (1750.55gm) and lowest in N-CON (1620.5g) group. Increasing levels of probiotics significantly increased (p<0.05) villi length, width, and surface area among probiotics-supplemented groups compared to non-supplemented groups. Digestibility of dry matter and crude protein were improved (P<0.05) in probiotics-supplemented groups compared to N-CON. In conclusion, PBM at a 6.5% level was successfully used to replace soybean meal with multi-strain probiotics supplementation without compromising broilers' health.