Efficiency of a Lactobacillus plantarum-Bacillus subtilis Combination on Growth Performance and Fecal Microflora Populations of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

A study was investigated the effects of the probiotic mixture (PM) contained Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) SY-99 2.4×109 CFU/kg and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) SJ-61 2.2×109 CFU/kg on growth performance and fecal microflora counts of broiler chickens. Referred to the previous studies, a total of 160 one-day-old male broiler chicken (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four experimental groups, which were a basal diet alone (control) and supplemented with PM 0.1 g/kg feed (T1), PM 0.2 g/kg feed (T2), and PM 0.4 g/kg feed (T3). After 28 days of administration, the average daily feed intake of T1 and T3 was significantly different compared to that of control (p<0.05). In addition, the feed conversion ratio of T2 and T3 was significantly improved compared to that of control (p<0.05). On the 28th day after administration, all treatment groups were significantly increased fecal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts and decreased fecal Enterobacteriaceae (ENT) counts compared to T1 (p<0.05). The results of this study indicated that the combination of L. plantarum and B. subtilis strains in the range of 0.2-0.4 g/kg feed could be used for the improvement of growth performance and fecal microflora in broiler chickens.