Production performance, immune response and carcass traits of broiler chickens fed diet incorporated with probiotics

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the production performance, immune response and carcass traits in broiler chickens (0 to 6 weeks) fed diets incorporated with probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidi). One-day-old chicks (192) were randomly selected and divided into 24 groups with 8 chicks in each group (6 dietary treatments x4 replicates). Six experimental diets T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 were formulated to contain an additional 0, BMD @20mg, Lactobacillus acidophilus (106 and 107 cfu/g feed) and Bifidobacterium bifidi (106 and 107 cfu/g feed), respectively. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality were not (P>0.05) affected by dietary supplementation of probiotics. On 28d of age, antibody responses to inoculated sheep red blood cells were determined. Antibody titres were higher (P less than 0.05) after feeding probiotics (L. acidophilus) supplemented diets (T3 and T4). During 4th week of age, the response to intra-dermally injected phytohaemagglutinin, an index of the in vivo cell-mediated immune response, increased in the groups fed on probiotic (L. acidophilus) supplemented diets. After 6 weeks, the three birds from each treatment group were sacrificed. Relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus were greater in broiler chickens given the probiotic supplemented diets but there was no effect on carcass traits, cut up parts and relative weights of organs among the dietary treatments. It was concluded that supplementing the diet with probiotic i.e., L. acidophilus (106 cfu/g feed) had a beneficial effect on immune responses but did not affect production performance and carcass traits in broiler chickens.