Effects of Bacillus coagulans supplementation on the growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens with Clostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The poultry industry is in need of effective antibiotic alternatives to control outbreaks of necrotic enteritis (NE) due to Clostridium perfringens.

Methods

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding Bacillus coagulans on the growth performance and gut health of broiler chickens with C. perfringens-induced NE. Two hundred and forty 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two dietary B. coagulans levels (0 or 4 × 10⁹ CFU/kg of diet) and two disease challenge statuses (control or NE challenged).

Results

NE-induced reduction in body weight gain was relieved by the addition of B. coagulans into broiler diets compared with the NE-infected birds. NE inf

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5784659 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature