Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Biological Application Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt
2
Cytology and Histology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
3
Poultry Breeding Department, Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt.
4
Plant Research Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt.
Abstract
A 5-week study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing Bacillus subtilis natto spores in broiler feed or water on growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum biochemistry, gut microbiota structure, intestinal morphometry (villi length and crypt depth) and histological changes in internal organs, with the goal to identify the most effective inclusion method (feed or water) for improving birds health and performance. A total of 189 one-day-old Ross broiler chicks were individually weighed and equally divided into three groups: T1 (control, no B. subtilis), T2 (diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg diet of B. subtilis spores powder form:((1x1012CFU/gm)), and T3 (water supplemented with 0.25 ml//L of B. subtilis spores liquid form (2x1012CFU/ml)). Results showed that supplementing B. subtilis natto in diet (T2) or water (T3) resulted in a significant increase in body weight, feed consumption, Performance, European Performance Efficiency Factor, improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass yield. Serum biochemical estimates revealed a significant decrease in cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and triiodothyronine hormone concentrations with a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein level. Additionally, distinct health-beneficial bacteria colonized the gut microbiota in T2 and T3, which helped mitigate opportunistic pathogens. All of the above parameters were more pronounced in the T2 group than in T3, suggesting that supplementing B. subtilis in feed was more effective than water. This indicates that the mode of administration significantly influenced the efficacy of B. subtilis supplementation, with dietary inclusion being the preferred method for achieving optimal results
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