Impact of Probiotic Supplementation on Growth Performance and Gut Health in Poultry

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of probiotic supplementation on growth performance and gut health in broiler chickens as a sustainable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. A total of 240 day-old Ross 308 chicks were allocated into four dietary groups: control (basal diet), antibiotic-supplemented, single-strain probiotic-supplemented, and multi-strain probiotic-supplemented. Growth parameters including body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly, while gut health was evaluated through microbial enumeration, histomorphological analysis, and immune response markers such as serum antibody titers and intestinal secretory IgA. The results demonstrated that probiotic supplementation significantly enhanced body weight gain and reduced FCR compared to the control and antibiotic groups. Multi-strain probiotics were particularly effective, leading to increased villus height, improved villus height-to-crypt depth ratios, and greater colonization by beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp. while suppressing pathogenic populations like Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Furthermore, probiotic-supplemented birds exhibited elevated antibody titers against Newcastle Disease Virus and higher mucosal IgA levels, indicating strengthened systemic and mucosal immunity. Mortality rates were lower in probiotic-fed groups, underscoring their role in improving survivability and production efficiency. These findings highlight probiotics as a scientifically validated and economically viable strategy to enhance poultry health and performance while reducing reliance on antibiotics. The study concludes that probiotics, particularly multi-strain formulations, represent a sustainable and effective approach to advancing poultry production in the context of increasing restrictions on antibiotic use.The study investigated the impact of probiotic supplementation on growth performance and gut health in broiler chickens as a sustainable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. A total of 240 day-old Ross 308 chicks were allocated into four dietary groups: control (basal diet), antibiotic-supplemented, single-strain probiotic-supplemented, and multi-strain probiotic-supplemented. Growth parameters including body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly, while gut health was evaluated through microbial enumeration, histomorphological analysis, and immune response markers such as serum antibody titers and intestinal secretory IgA. The results demonstrated that probiotic supplementation significantly enhanced body weight gain and reduced FCR compared to the control and antibiotic groups. Multi-strain probiotics were particularly effective, leading to increased villus height, improved villus height-to-crypt depth ratios, and greater colonization by beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp. while suppressing pathogenic populations like Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Furthermore, probiotic-supplemented birds exhibited elevated antibody titers against Newcastle Disease Virus and higher mucosal IgA levels, indicating strengthened systemic and mucosal immunity. Mortality rates were lower in probiotic-fed groups, underscoring their role in improving survivability and production efficiency. These findings highlight probiotics as a scientifically validated and economically viable strategy to enhance poultry health and performance while reducing reliance on antibiotics. The study concludes that probiotics, particularly multi-strain formulations, represent a sustainable and effective approach to advancing poultry production in the context of increasing restrictions on antibiotic use.