Abstract:
Lactobacilli are the most important bacteria gaining more consideration in the area of
probiotics because they are generally regarded as safe. The present study was conducted to
isolate and characterize Lactobacilli from avian microbiota and fermented milk products with
the objective to evaluate these isolates as probiotics in broiler chicken.
Various Lactobacillus species were isolated and, after characterization and screening, these
isolated Lactobacilli were evaluated as probiotics in broiler chicken. A total 240 broiler
chicks (day-old) were divided into 8 groups of 30 chicks each with 5 replicates. Six groups
were administered isolated Lactobacilli in three dose rates and two routes. In addition, one
group was administered commercial probiotics and another one group was maintained as
control. Evaluation was done for the determination of effect on different performance
parameters and immune response under experimental conditions. The chicks of experimental
group, which was given Lactobacilli at dose rate 1x108 CFU/ kg body weight through
drinking water, showed significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight, less feed consumption,
decreased feed conversion ratio, low mortality and higher dressing percentage. This group
also gained significantly (P<0.05) higher post-vaccinal antibody titres. Significantly, higher
counts of Lactobacilli and lower count of E. coli were recorded in the intestinal contents of
this group than other treated and control group. The treatment also showed similar results
under field conditions. The study showed that these locally isolated Lactobacillus species had
better effect as probiotics and these are as good as imported ones. It is recommended that
these locally isolated Lactobacilli may be used as probiotics after species/strain identification
through molecular methods and extensive field trials.
