Probiotic and prebiotic supplementation improving the production performance and immune characteristics of laying hens

A 16 week feeding trial was conducted with 140 White Leghorn layers of 22-23 +/- 0.08 weeks of age which were distributed randomly into seven experimental groups, having 4 replicates with 5 birds in each. The laying hens of control group (T-1) were fed a basal diet (CP 18.04%), while in treatment groups T-2, T-3, T-4 basal diet was supplemented with probiotic (containing 5 x10(8) cfu/g of Lactobacillus fermentum, 1 x10(9) cfu/g of Bacillus spp., 1 x10(9) cfu/g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae) at levels of 0.5g, 1.0 g and 2.0 g /kg feed, respectively, while in T-5, T-6, and T-7 0.5g, 1.0g and 2.0g/kg feed of prebiotic (mannonoligosacchride of Saccharomyces cell wall-47g, formic acid-32g) was supplemented, respectively. The percent hen day egg production and feed efficiency (kg/dozen eggs and kg/kg egg mass) were improved (P<0.05) in probiotic and prebiotic incorporated diets. The mRNA expression levels of Toll like receptors (TLRs) TLR2 and TLR4 was increased (P<0.05) when graded levels of the probiotic and prebiotic were supplemented, while, TLR7 did not show any significant change. Thus, it can be inferred that the inclusion of the probiotic and prebiotic could enhance the production performance and immune status of birds by augmenting the T cell mediated immune response.