Interactive effects of dietary supplementation between illite and probiotic on productive performance, intestinal microflora, and blood profiles of laying hens.

This study investigates the interactive effects of dietary illite and probiotic on productive performance, intestinal microflora, and blood profiles of laying hens. A total of 432 laying hens at 24 weeks old were allotted into six dietary groups. An experimental design was composed with a 3 (illite levels: 0, 0.3, and 0.6%) × 2 (probiotic levels: 0 and 0.2%). The probiotic based on Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and B. licheniformis was used. There were interactions between illite and probiotic on total microbes and salmonella of digesta. Higher egg production was observed in hens fed a diet supplemented with either 0.6% illite or 0.2% probiotic than in those fed a basal diet. The total microbes of the group fed a diet with 0.6% illite were lower than the groups fed diets with 0 and 0.3% illite. A lower number of Escherichia coli was observed in hens fed a diet with probiotic than those fed a basal diet. Higher immunoglobulin G concentration was observed in the group fed a diet supplemented with 0.6% illite than in those fed a basal diet. Our results suggest illite and probiotic can be used as feed additives for hens, separately or in combination to improve performance and intestinal microflora.