Efficacy of <i>Pediococcus acidlactici</i>-based probiotic on intestinal Coliforms and villus height, serum cholesterol level and performance of broiler chickens

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate the efficacy of Pediococcus acidlactici-based probiotic on broilers performance. One hundred and sixty male Ross broiler chicks were allocated in 2 experimental treatments for 6 weeks. The experimental birds received a corn-soybean meal basal diet that was supplemented as follows: “control,” with no other additions; “PA,” Pediococcus acidlactici. For broilers fed diet supplemented with PA, the results showed that body weight (BW) increased and feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased (P < 0.05) when compared to those of the control. Treatment of PA increased (P < 0.05) villus height in duodenum and ileum when compared with control. Broilers fed diet supplemented with PA also had lower (P < 0.05) coliforms number of the ileum and serum cholesterol level than that of the control. This study showed the beneficial effects of Pediococcus acidlactici-based probiotic on broilers performance.

Key words: Pediococcus acidlactici, performance, probiotic, broiler chicken.