Microbiota of the cecum, ileum morphometry, pH of the crop and performance of broiler chickens supplemented with probiotics

Abstract

It was studied, in this work, the effects of supplementation of probiotics on the performance, on the pH of crop content, on the morphometry of the ileum and on the number of enterobacteria in the cecum of the broilers. Out of the 120 studied birds, 60 belonged to the test group and 60 to the control group. At 1, 7, 12, 18, 23 and 28 days of age, the chickens and rations were weighed and mortality and morbidity were determined. Then, the birds were sacrificed and the pH of the crop content was measured, ileum fragments were collected for morphometric analysis and the enterobacteria in the cecal content were quantified. The mean pH was lower in the group that was given probiotics at 1, 7 and 18 days of age. There were no differences on ration consumption, weight, mortality and morbidity rates. The counts of enterobacteria were lower in the supplemented animals at the ages of 7, 18 and 28 days. The measure of villus of the ileum was higher for the group treated with probiotics at all ages, except for 1 day of age in comparison to the control group. This work proves that supplementation with probiotics reduces the pH of the crop content at the ages of 1, 7 and 18 days and it can contribute to the reduction of pathogenic bacteria on the first days of life by reducing the quantity of enterobacteria in the cecum. In addition, probiotics increase the height of villi in the ileum of the birds.