Reduction of broilers intestinal pathogenic micro-flora under normal or stressed condition
Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the effect of Organic acid (citric acid), prebiotic (lactose) and aromatic plant (rosemary), added to a standard diet, to reduce or control the prevalence pathogenic bacteria and parasite in the intestine of broiler chicks reared under normal or heat stress conditions. Two hundred forty, unsexed one-week-old, Hubbard chicks were divided into groups of 60 birds each and randomly assigned to the four treatments. Each treatment has two replicates, Experiment was as follow: A control group with no supplement and the other three groups were supplemented with one of the following additives; citric acid, lactose or rosemary. At 35 days of age, each group was divided into two equal subgroups, the first was kept under normal conditions (23°C) while, the second was exposed 10 38°C for 3 hrs daily for 6 consecutive days from 35 to 40 days of age with 70 % relative humidity,
The three experimental additives (citric acid, lactose and rosemary) had statistical effects (P<0.05) regarding the decrease in the counts of pathogenic intestinal bacteria (i.e., total aerobic bacteria, E. coli, salmonella and staphylococci) and parasite (coccidia ovum) in ileum, caecum or fecal mailer under normal temperature (23°C) or high temperature (38°C) compared to the control groups which received diets without experimental additives. Furthermore, they significantly (P<0.05) improved body weight gain, mortality rate, feed consumption, feed conversion and carcass characteristics of broilers. The addition of the dietary rosemary had a positive (P<0.05) effect on total proteins (albumin and globulin), lymphoid organs relative weights (bursa and thymus), Leukocytic cells (WBC's) and Heterophil cells either under normal or high temperature conditions. Conversely, it has negative (P<0.05) effects on the total lipids, cholesterol and Monocyte cells of broilers blood. However, T3 creatinine, AST and ALT enzymes, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit values were not affected by any of the three experimental additives. There were decreases (P<0.05) in body weight gain, feed consumption, (T3), plasma total proteins and increase in mortality rate of chicks subjected to heat stress. However, experimental treatments reduced the deleterious effects of heat stress. Citric acid, lactose and rosemary were efficient as antibacterial and bacteriostatic activities in reducing or controlling the intestinal pathogenic bacteria and parasite, consequently, improving the broiler production and physiological status. Therefore, it is advisable to use organic acid (citric acid), prebiotics (lactose) or aromatic plant (rosemary) in broiler diets under either normal or stressed environmental conditions.
Publication year 2010
Pages 249-270
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City الاسكندرية
serial title Egyptian Poultry Science
ISSN 1110-5623
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Broiler chickens. Carcass composition. Citric acid. Heat stress. Intestines. Lactose. Microbial flora. Mortality. Organic acids. Pathogens. Performance testing. Rosemary. Stress.
Publication Type Journal
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