Purpose To evaluate the effects of the pelleting and storage stability of Clostridium butyricum feed additives on the growth performance and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens.
Methods A total of 200 one-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) broiler chickens were divided into two treatment groups. The control group was fed a basic diet, while the experimental group received the basic diet supplemented with C. butyricum (1.00×107 CFU/g in the complete formula feed). At 21 days of age, growth performance and the total number of Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus, and C. butyricum in cecal chyme were measured; and the antibacterial properties, the pelleting and storage stability of the C. butyricum were also evaluated.
Results 1) Compared with the control group, the average daily gain and the number of Lactobacillus of the experimental group increased significantly (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the feed conversion ratio and the number of E. coli (P>0.05). The number of C. butyricum in the experimental group was 2.82×104 CFU/g, which was relatively low. 2) The Oxford Cup test showed a diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ) of 12.14 mm for a 1.0∶1.0 of C. butyricum to E. coli K88, but the DIZ was significantly reduced to 10.42 mm at a 0.1∶1.0 ratio, with a decrease of 14.17% (P<0.05). 3) Compared with the amount of C. butyricum added to the diet, pelleting resulted in a loss of 44.13% of C. butyricum in the experimental pellets on the 1st day, and storage for 21 days further reduced by 21.36%.
Conclusion Dietary supplementation with C. butyricum additives can improve the growth performance and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens. However, the total number of C. butyricum significantly decrease during the pelleting and storage processes, partially affecting its ability to regulate intestinal E. coli.
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