In the poultry industry, antibiotics have been commonly used
to promote growth and control enteric pathogens. However, due to the emergence
of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, many countries have banned or voluntarily
phased out their use. Probiotics, such as H57, have emerged as promising
alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. They have been shown to
effectively improve meat production and combat enteric pathogens in various
animal species.
The researchers conducted an experiment with broiler
chickens, comparing sorghum- and wheat-based diets supplemented with H57 to
non-supplemented control diets. They measured the growth rate, feed intake, and
feed conversion of the chickens and studied the microbial metabolic functions
in the caecal region using shotgun metagenomic sequencing.
The results of the study revealed that H57 supplementation significantly
increased the growth rate and daily feed intake of the meat chickens compared
to the non-supplemented control group. Interestingly, there was no effect on
the feed conversion ratio. Metagenomic analysis of the caecal microbiome showed
that H57 supplementation positively influenced the functional capacity of the
microbial community. Pathways related to amino acid and vitamin synthesis were enriched in the H57-supplemented chickens.
The findings of this study have important implications for
the poultry industry. The use of probiotic supplements like H57, which can
enhance weight gain and modulate intestinal microbial function, may serve
as an effective alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. By improving the
performance of meat chickens and modifying the functional potential of their
microbiomes, these supplements can contribute to increased productivity and
overall health of the animals.
The researchers highlight the significance of their study in
exploring the potential benefits of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57 in
the poultry industry. The findings suggest that probiotic supplements could be
valuable tools for enhancing meat chicken productivity while reducing the
reliance on antibiotics. Further research in this area may lead to the
development of more sustainable and effective strategies for animal farming.
The article is published by Oxford University Publication in
the Journal of Applied Microbiology and can be found here.
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