On-Farm Evaluation of Three Strains of Lactobacillus spp. Based Probiotics on the Hematology and Serum Lipid Profile of Local Turkeys

Abstract

A 16 week study was conducted to determine the effect of three strains of Lactobacillus sp. based probiotics on the hematological indices and serum lipid profile of local toms. A total of 80 day old local male poults were randomly assigned to four treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4) in a completely randomized design with 20 birds per treatment. Three strains of Lactobacillus namely; L. delbrueckii sub sp. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus and L. sporogens, were incorporated in the drinking water of T2, T3, and T4 respectively at 0.5ml/L. T1 served as control. Each treatment was replicated twice with 10 birds per replicate. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Results showed that the effect of the different strains of Lactobacillus sp. on hemoglobin, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, serum triglycerides, cholesterol, high density lipoproteins and low density lipoproteins were found to be significant (p<0.05). Birds on probiotics inclusion had least values for white blood cell counts, low density lipoproteins, cholesterol and serum triglycerides with T4 recording the most superior values. It was thus concluded that of the three strains of Lactobacillus sp based probiotics used in the study, Lactobacillus sporogens was observed to support superior hematological values with reduced lipid profiles.