title: Effect of probiotic supplementation on growth, nitrogen utilisation and serum cholesterol in broilers.
abstract: 1. The effect of dietary probiotic supplementation on the growth, nitrogen utilisation and serum cholesterol content of broiler chickens was studied in 2 trials. 2. In experiment 1, the birds receiving the 0, 75, 100, 125 mg probiotic/kg diets had weight gains of 1204.0, 1272.0, 1268.3 and 1210.5, respectively at the end of 8 weeks of feeding. The group of birds fed on the 75 mg probiotic supplemented diet retained significantly (P < 0.01) more nitrogen than the control birds. Serum cholesterol content was lower in the probiotic-supplemented birds (93.3 mg/100 ml) compared to the control birds (132.2 mg/100 ml). 3. In the second experiment the probiotic plus antibiotic-supplemented group of birds had the maximum weight gain (1148.5 g) followed by antibiotic (1141.3 g), probiotic-supplemented (1128.4 g) and control birds (1045.6 g) after 6 weeks. Nitrogen retention was greatest in the antibiotic--(48.5%) followed by the probiotic--(46.5%), probiotic plus antibiotic-supplemented groups (46.3%) compared to 40.2% in control birds. 4. The apparent metabolisable energy was greatest in birds receiving the probiotic plus antibiotic-supplemented diet (12.37 MJ/kg) followed by antibiotic--(12.00 MJ/kg), probiotic-supplemented birds (11.92 MJ/kg) than in control birds (11.62 MJ/kg). Serum cholesterol was significantly (P < 0.01) lower in probiotic-supplemented birds (86.1 mg/dl) compared to 118.4 mg/dl in control birds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, Madras Veterinary College, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kadirvel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natarajan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhaskaran
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001236:Aspergillus oryzae; D001455:Bambermycins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002175:Candida; D002645:Chickens; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006128:Growth; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001455:Bambermycins; D002784:Cholesterol; D009584:Nitrogen