Investigation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus role in diet as a probiotric on broilers performance

Abstract

Introduction: The present study investigated two different concentrations of Lactobacillus
rhamnosus in diet and also a commercial probiotic (protexin) on broiler performance.
Materials & Methods: This experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design
with 4 treatments and 4 replicates of 12 birds each for 42 days. Experimental treatments
included; T1-diet without probiotic (control), T2-diet with Protexin as a commercial probiotic,
T3- diet with L. rhamnosus at 107 cfu/g and T4-diet with L. rhamnosusat 109 cfu/g (4).
Results: No significant differences among experimental diets on weight gain, feed intake and
protein efficiency ratio were observed (P>0.05). In total, L. rhamnosusat 109 cfu/g diet (T4)
numerically improved feed conversion ratio compared to other treatments in the whole
breeding period. A significant difference was observed in calcium content of tibia bone of
chicks fed T4- diet compared to other groups (P<0.05), but no significant differences for
phosphorous content among treatments were determined. A fortified diet with L. rhamnosus at
109 cfu/g (T4) significantly reduced the cholesterol content of the blood compared to the control
and group supplemented with Protexin (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Therefore, the use of L. rhamnosus at 109 cfu/g in the diet as a potential
probiotic for broilers is recommended.