title: Effects of pre-encapsulated and pro-encapsulated Enterococcus faecalis on growth performance, blood characteristics, and cecal microflora in broiler chickens.
abstract: The effects of microencapsulation of Enterococcus faecalis on the growth performance, antioxidant activity, immune function, and cecal microbiota in broilers were investigated. Broilers (1-day-old) were assigned randomly as follows: 5 treatments, 5 replicate pens per treatment, and 20 broilers per pen. Treatments included (1) a basal diet (CON), (2) CON + Aureomycin (1 g/kg of diet) (ANT), (3) CON + free non-encapsulated probiotics (1 × 10(9) cfu/kg of diet) (FREE), (4) CON + pro-encapsulated probiotics (1 × 10(9) cfu/kg of diet) (PRO), and (5) CON + pre-encapsulated probiotics (1 × 10(9) cfu/kg of diet) (PRE). Feedings included starter (1 to 21 d) and grower (21 to 42 d) phases. In the starter phase, the ANT and the PRE groups had greater (P < 0.05) ADG than the CON groups, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) for these 2 groups was decreased (P < 0.05). In the finisher phase, the PRE and PRO groups had greater (P < 0.05) ADG than the CON group and their FCR was decreased significantly (P < 0.05). During the entire feeding period, only the PRE group showed greater (P < 0.05) ADG and lower (P < 0.05) FCR. On day 21, only birds in the PRE group had greater (P < 0.05) total antioxidant capacity and number of Lactobacillus than the CON group. On day 42, The PRE group showed greater (P < 0.05) superoxide dismutase than the CON group. Serum IgA and IgM concentrations were increased (P < 0.05) in the PRE group. Serum IL-6 in the PRE group was greater (P < 0.05) than in the other groups with the exception of ANT. At the phylum level, Firmicutes was enriched (P < 0.05) and Proteobacteria was depleted (P < 0.05) only in the PRE group. At the genus level, only the PRE diets increased (P < 0.05) the number of both Lactobacillus and Enterococcus. The results indicate that pre-encapsulation assists the efficient functioning of probiotics in broilers.
authors.affiliation: Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P. R. China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P. R. China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Cereals & Oils Nutrtion Research Group, Academy of Sci. & Tech. of State Administration of Grain, Xicheng, Beijing 100037, P. R. China.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Cereals & Oils Nutrtion Research Group, Academy of Sci. & Tech. of State Administration of Grain, Xicheng, Beijing 100037, P. R. China qwt@chinagrain.org lak@chinagrain.org.
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Cereals & Oils Nutrtion Research Group, Academy of Sci. & Tech. of State Administration of Grain, Xicheng, Beijing 100037, P. R. China.
authors.forename: X X
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Cereals & Oils Nutrtion Research Group, Academy of Sci. & Tech. of State Administration of Grain, Xicheng, Beijing 100037, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Cereals & Oils Nutrtion Research Group, Academy of Sci. & Tech. of State Administration of Grain, Xicheng, Beijing 100037, P. R. China qwt@chinagrain.org lak@chinagrain.org.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004655:Emulsions; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004655:Emulsions
keywords: Enterococcus faecalis; broiler chicken; growth performance; pre-microencapsulation; pro-microencapsulation