Feed-additive probiotics accelerate yet antibiotics delay intestinal microbiota maturation in broiler chicken.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reducing antibiotics overuse in animal agriculture is one key in combat against the spread of antibiotic resistance. Probiotics are a potential replacement of antibiotics in animal feed; however, it is not clear whether and how probiotics and antibiotics differ in impact on physiology and microbial ecology of host animals.

Results

Host phenotype and fecal microbiota of broilers with either antibiotics or probiotics as feed additive were simultaneously sampled at four time points from birth to slaughter and then compared. Probiotic feeding resulted in a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) and induced the highest level of immunity response, suggesting greater economic benefits in broiler farming. Probiotic use but not antibiotic use recapitulated the characteristics o

SUBMITTER: Gao P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5541433 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature