Intestinal Microbial Population and Serum Lipid Profile of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Supplemented with Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus Cultures.

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effects of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus cultures on intestinal microbial population and lipid profile of broilers. Five dietary treatments consisting of basal diet (control ), basal diet + L. bulgaricus, basal diet + S.thermophilus, basal diet + combination of L. bulgaricus and S.thermophilus and basal diet + antibiotics (Oxytetracycline) were fed to 150 arbor acre broiler chicks from 1-35 d of age (DOA). The chicks were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments each having 3 replicates with 10 birds per pen. The intestinal microbial population and serum lipid profile were determined at 35 DOA. The results showed that serum cholesterol level, triglyceride and LDL were significantly lower (p<0.05) in broiler fed diets containing the probiotic organisms. The HDL level were significantly higher (p<0.05) in broiler fed diets containing probiotic organisms than those of the antibiotics and control diets. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts and Total microbial counts (TMC) in the ileum were significantly higher (p<0.05) in broiler chickens fed diets containing probiotic organisms than those of antibiotics and control fed diets while the coliforms counts in the ileum were significantly higher (p<0.05) in broiler fed diets containing antibiotics and control than those of probiotic organisms. Addition of probiotic organisms in broilers diets improved high-densitylipo-proteinthat enhances product quality and health status of broiler chickens.