Effects of Dietary Supplemented Probiotics Bacillus coagulans on Intestinal Health of Broiler Chickens under High Temperature

PurposeTo study the effects of Bacillus coagulans on the growth performance and intestinal health of broilers bred under high temperature.

MethodsA total of 320 28-day-old AA broiler chickens were divided into five groups: positive control group was the normal temperature group NT, (22±1) ℃, negative control group was the high temperature group HT, (34±1) ℃, and three test groups. NT and HT groups were fed with basic diet; three test groups added B. coagulans with 0.2×10⁷, 1.0×10⁷, 5.0×10⁷ CFU/g to the basic diet of HT group, respectively, recording HT-BC_0.2, HT-BC_1.0 and HT-BC_5.0 group, respectively.

ResultsCompared with NT group broilers, the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake, jejunal villus height, villus height/crypt depth, number of Lactobacillus (N_L) and N_L/number of Escherichia coli (N_E) in jejunal chyme of HT group broilers were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the feed intake/gain and N_E in jejunal chyme were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with HT group broilers, the ADG, jejunal villus height/crypt depth, jejunal N_L/N_E of HT-BC_1.0 and HT-BC_5.0 group broilers were significantly increased (P<0.05), while N_E in jejunal chyme of HT-BC_5.0 group broilers were significantly decreased (P<0.05).

ConclusionDietary supplementation of B. coagulans improves the growth performance and intestinal health of broilers chickens under high temperature, by maintaining intestinal morphology and microflora balance.