and lactic acid bacteria improve the growth performance and blood parameters and reduce infection in broilers.

AIM

The aim of the study was to determine the potentials and effects of and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as probiotics on broiler growth, health, and infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To evaluate the inoculum size applicable for broilers, 1-day-old broilers were orally fed fresh cultures of single strains and a KKU213/ NP6 mixture at 10 and 10 colony-forming unit (CFUs)/mL/chick. The body weight gain (BWG), contamination level and total and LAB abundances in the crop and intestine were measured. Subsequently, 1-day-old broilers were orally fed of KKU213, CH403, and SH8 at 10 CFUs/mL, followed by inulin. After 35 days, the BWG, and LAB abundances in the cecum, blood parameters, and KKU213 colonization were assessed.

RESULTS

The broilers fed single strains or KKU213+NP6 exhibited a higher BWG and a higher crop LAB abundance than the controls (p<0.05). Probiotic feeding decreased the intestinal abundance and correspondingly increased the LAB abundance. The broilers fed the mixed culture (KKU213+CH403+SH8) followed by prebiotics showed lower mortality, higher blood high-density lipoprotein levels, and lower blood uric acid levels than the controls (p<0.0004). Probiotic feeding significantly increased the and LAB counts (p<0.05). A CE330 isolate obtained from the cecum after 35 days of KKU213 feeding was closely related to KKU213.

CONCLUSION

KKU213 is a potent probiotic strain that can survive, colonize and reduce infection in broilers and improve their growth and health. This strain, combined with different LAB can act synergistically in the gut and promote broiler growth.