Effect of Supplementation of Probiotics and Acidifier on Immunity, Caecal Coliform Count, Intestinal Histomorphology and Serum Biochemical Parameters in Broilers Rout S.K.1, Pradhan C.R.2, Rath R.*, Panda N.3, Panigrahi B., Associate Professor Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar-751003, Odisha, India 1AVAS, Badachana, FARD, Govt. of Odisha, India 2Professor and Head, Department of Animal Nutrition 3Associate Professor, Department of Animal Nutrition *Corresponding author: Ph.D. Scholar, LPM Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, Haryana. Email: dr.rajashreerath@gmail.com
Online published on 13 July, 2015. Abstract Day old Vencobb broiler chicks of either sex with uniform body weight were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments viz. T1 (basal diet), T2 (basal diet+probiotic @ 50 g/tonne of feed), T3 (basal diet+acidifier @ 2 kg/tonne of feed), T4 (basal diet+probiotic @ 50 g/tonne of feed+acidifier @ 2 kg/tonne of feed). The chicks were fed with starter ration up to 21 days and finisher ration from 22 to 42 days of age. The antibody titres in the probiotics–acidifier (T4) groups showed significantly higher (P<0.05) values than control birds (T1). Intestinal (caecal) coliform count (log10 CFU/g) was found to be lower (P<0.05) in the probiotics-acidifier combination group (T4) as compared to others. Villus height, crypt depth and ratio of villus height to crypt depth was higher (P<0.05) for the combination group (T4) than those for the control group. Serum glucose, urea, creatinine, calcium and phosphorus levels were similar in all the groups whereas the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride were found to be higher (P<0.05) in group T1 as compared to other groups. It was concluded that supplementation of probiotic, acidifier or their combination improved the immunity status, intestinal morphology, gut health and lowered the serum cholesterol and triglyceride level in the broiler birds. Top Keywords Probiotics, Acidifier, Immunity, Coliform, Crypt depth, Villus height, Blood profile. Top |