Potentiality of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in replacing antibiotic growth promoters on growth, gut microbiology, histology, and serum antibody titers of commercial broilers

The effects of dietary supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a yeast-cultured probiotic (PB), on Cobb 500 broiler growth, gut health, and immunity were studied. The trial consisted of 288-day-old straight-run chicks divided into 3 treatments with 6 replications each of 16 birds. Other diets, in addition to the control diet (no additives), contained either an anti-biotic growth promoter (AGP) at 15 g/100 kg feed or a PB at 20 g/100 kg feed. Blood samples were collected on d 22 and 34 to determine the HI antibody titer against ND and ELISA for IBD. Different growth parameters were recorded and calculated. Dressing yield was calculated upon slaughtering on d 35. Duodenum, ileum, and cecum were subjected to examine the total viable count (TVC), total Escherichia coli count (TEC), and histological observations. Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design. Broiler chicks that received PB and AGP had a significant improvement in body weight, body weight gain, feed efficiency, and carcass yield compared to that of the control. Furthermore, the inclusion of PB in the diet significantly reduced the amount of abdominal fat than other groups. The TVC and TEC of the duodenum, ileum, and cecum were significantly reduced in AGP followed by PB groups. The villus height was significantly higher in PB and AGP. Antibody titer against ND and IBD was significantly increased in PB and AGP groups. In conclusion, feeding S. cerevisiae could be an alternative to AGP to improve growth, meat yield, antibody titer, and gut morphology in commercial broilers.