Effect of Heat-Inactivated Compound Probiotics on Growth Performance, Plasma Biochemical Indices, and Cecal Microbiome in Yellow-Feathered Broilers

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of heat-inactivated compound probiotics on growth performance, plasma biochemical indices, and gut microbiota composition and functions in yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 360 1-day-old broilers were randomly divided into 3 groups, including a basal diet as negative control group (PC), basal diet plus antibiotics with 250 mg/kg calcium oxytetracycline and 200 mg/kg Nosiheptide as positive control (PC), and basal diet plus 500 mg/kg compound probiotics consisting of heat-inactivated Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus acidophilus BFI (BFI). Each group had 6 replicates of 20 chickens. On d 21, 42, and 63, one chick from each replicate was selected for blood collection and cecal sampling. Compared to the NC group, dietary supplementation with heat-inactivated compound probiotics increased the feed efficiency during d 1–63 (P < 0.05). The plasma cholesterol content at 42 d and creatinine content at 63 d were decreased by dietary supplementation with heat-inactivated compound probiotics (P < 0.05). The dominant phyla in broiler cecal microbiota were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria, while the dominant genera were Bacteroides, Ruminococcaceae, and Phascolarctobacterium. The β-diversity index of cecal microbiota in BFI group was increased at d 42 (P < 0.01) and d 63 (P < 0.05). Dietary heat-inactivated compound probiotics increased the relative abundances of Barnesiellaceae (family), Barnesiella (g...
Source: Frontiers in Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research