Effects of prebiotics on intestinal histo-morphometry and gut microflora status of broiler chickens

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of prebiotics on intestinal histo-morphometry and gut health status of broiler chickens. A total number of 240 day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six dietary treatment groups having five replicates each with eight birds per replicate for six weeks. A basal corn-soybean diet was formulated that served as control (T-1). The rest five test dietary treatments were prepared by adding antibiotic (bacitracin methylene disalicylate-BMD at 0.002% of diet (T-2), prebiotics i.e., mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) at 0.1% or 0.2% (T-3 and T-4) and fructo oligosaccharides (FOS) at 0.1% or 0.2% (T-5 , T-6 respectively) with basal diet. Total anaerobes counts were significantly (P<0.05) reduced at 21 and 42 d at ileum in T-2, T-3 and T-4 groups whereas, coliforms count were reduced (P<0.05) in T-2 and T-3 groups. However, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count were significantly (P<0.05) increased in T-3 and T-4 groups but lactobacillus count were increased (P<0.05) in only T-3 group at 21 and 42 d in ileum. Villus height (VH) and width (VW) were significantly increased (P<0.05) at 21d and 42 d in T-3 and T-4 groups, whereas, at 21 d, crypt depth (CD) were increased (P<0.05) in T-3 and T(4 )groups but at 42 d, CD were significantly improved in T-3 and T-4 or T-5 and T-6 groups. No significant (P>0.05) differences were observed in ratio between VH and CD at 21d or 42 d. Thus, it might he concluded that 0.1% or 0.2% MOS inclusion in basal diet improved intestinal histo-morphometry and gut health in broiler chickens and it is a better alternate feed additive to replacement of antibiotic growth promoter.