Performance of selected strains of Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae alone and in different combinations in broilers

Abstract

Dietary supplementation of the selected strains of Lactobacillus bulgaricus (L4), Streptococcus laetis (S 1) andSaccrharomyces cerevisae (Y3) alone and in different combinations on 'IBL-80' broilers revealed significantly higher growthrates (+14.05% and 10.15%) and feed efficiency ratio (+7.80 and 2.29%) coupled with zero mortality by the combination of the3 microbes (L. bulgaricus + S. lactis + S. cerevisiae) and L4 of L. bulgaricus as compared to control during the starterphase. Contrary to this, none of the treatments showed significantly better performance than control during the finisherphase. The overall (1 to 6 weeks) growth performance and feed efficiency ratios were significantly (P<0.05) better under thetreatments involving the combination of the 3 microbes (+7.22 and +2.55%) as well as L. bulgaricus (+6.86 and 2.55%) thanthat of control, and their performance may be correlated to significantly (P<0.05) higher digestibilities of dry matter andcrude fibre. The differences tor the dressing percentage, gut pH and duodenal thickness under different treatments werestatistically non-significant. On the basis of overall picture with respect to growth rate, feed efficiency ratio, mortalityper cent, the combination of the 3 microbes (L. bulgaricus + S. lactis + S. cerevisiae) and L4 strain of L. bulgaricus wasthe most promising probiotics.