Growth performance and antibody response of broiler chicks fed yeast derived β-glucan and single-strain probiotics

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary yeast derived beta-glucan and single-strain probiotics on the growth performance and antibody response in broiler chicks. Six hundred and thirty 1-d-old male broiler chicks were divided into seven groups, placed into three pens per group (30 birds per pen) and fed one of seven non-medicated corn-SBM based experimental diets containing 0.025, 0.05 or 0.1% Saccharomyces cerevisiae beta-glucan and 0.05, 0.1 or 0.2% Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BA-pro, 1.3x10(9)/g) or devoid of them for 5 wk. The body weight gains in groups fed diets containing 0.025 or 0.1% beta-glucan, 0.1% or 0.2% BA-pro were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the control over 1-35 d. Feed conversion rates of groups fed beta-glucan and BA-pro tended to be improved compared to the control group. There were no significant differences in the relative weights of liver, abdominal fat and breast muscle. No significant differences were observed in the activities of serum enzymes and concentrations of various cholesterol fractions. The antibody titers against Newcastle disease or infectious bronchitis virus in the chicks fed diets containing beta-glucan and BA-pro were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the control. The concentrations of cecal lactic acid bacteria in all groups fed BA-pro were significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared to the control. These results indicated that dietary yeast derived beta-glucan and BA-pro exerted growth-promoting and immune-enhancing effects in broiler chickens. In addition, BA-pro added to the diets modulated the profiles of cecal microflora, reflecting a potential to be beneficial microorganisms in chickens.