Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
Poult Sci. 2023 Dec;102(12):103092. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103092. Epub 2023 Sep 9.
Probiotics are widely used as feed supplements in the poultry industry to promote growth and performance in chickens. Specifically, this supplementation starts around the time of lay and continues through the production cycle in laying hens. However, the embryonic period is critical to the growth and development of metabolically active organs thereby influencing subsequent health and productivity in adult birds. Therefore, the present study investigated the potential use of probiotics to promote embryonic growth in layers. Further, a pilot grow-out study was conducted to evaluate the effect of in ovo and in-feed probiotic application on pullet growth. For the study, fertile White Leghorn eggs were sprayed with phosphate buffered saline (control, CON) or probiotic cocktail (in ovo only, IO; Lactobacillus paracasei DUP 13076 and L. rhamnosus NRRL B 442) prior to and during incubation. The embryos were sacrificed on d 7, 10, 14, and 18 of incubation for embryo morphometry. On d 18, remaining eggs were set in the hatcher to assess hatchability and hatchling morphometry. For the pullet trial, hatchlings were raised on feed with or without probiotics until wk 5. Pullets were sacrificed weekly, and morphometric parameters were recorded. Results of our study demonstrate that in ovo probiotic application significantly improved relative embryo weight, crown-rump length, hatchability, and hatchling weight when compared to the control (P < 0.05). Further, this enhanced embryonic development was associated with a concomitant increase in posthatch growth. Specifically, pullets raised from probiotic-sprayed eggs had significantly improved crown-rump length, tibial length, tibial bone weight, and body weight when compared to the control (P < 0.05). Moreover, among the different treatment schemes employed in this study [CON (no probiotics), in-feed only (IF), IO only, and in ovo and in-feed probiotic supplementation (IOIF)], sustained probiotic supplementation (IOIF) was found to be the most effective in promoting growth. Therefore, in ovo and in-feed probiotic supplementation could be employed to promote embryo and pullet growth to support subsequent performance in layers.
益生菌在禽类养殖业中被广泛用作饲料添加剂，以促进鸡的生长和生产性能。具体来说，这种添加剂从产蛋开始使用，并在蛋鸡的生产周期内持续使用。然而，胚胎期对于代谢活跃器官的生长和发育至关重要，从而影响成年鸟类的后续健康和生产力。因此，本研究调查了益生菌在蛋鸡中促进胚胎生长的潜力。此外，还进行了一项试点育雏研究，以评估在胚内和饲料中应用益生菌对雏鸡生长的影响。在这项研究中，用磷酸盐缓冲盐水（对照，CON）或益生菌混合物（仅胚内，IO；副干酪乳杆菌 DUP 13076 和鼠李糖乳杆菌 NRRL B 442）喷洒可育白来航鸡蛋，然后在孵化期间进行喷洒。在孵化的第 7、10、14 和 18 天，对胚胎进行胚胎形态测量。在第 18 天，将剩余的鸡蛋放入孵化器中以评估孵化率和雏鸡形态测量。在育雏试验中，雏鸡在含有或不含有益生菌的饲料中饲养，直到第 5 周。每周处死育雏鸡，并记录形态参数。我们的研究结果表明，与对照组相比，胚内益生菌应用显著提高了相对胚胎重量、头臀长、孵化率和雏鸡体重（P < 0.05）。此外，这种胚胎发育的增强与孵化后的生长同时增加有关。具体来说，与对照组相比，用益生菌喷雾鸡蛋饲养的雏鸡的头臀长、胫骨长、胫骨骨重和体重显著提高（P < 0.05）。此外，在本研究中采用的不同处理方案[CON（无益生菌）、仅饲料（IF）、IO 仅、胚内和饲料中补充益生菌（IOIF）]中，发现持续补充益生菌（IOIF）是最有效的促进生长的方法。因此，在胚内和饲料中补充益生菌可以促进胚胎和育雏鸡的生长，从而支持蛋鸡后续的生产性能。
