Probiotic effects of Lactobacillus reuteri and Pediococcus pentosaceus on growth performance, blood biochemistry, and antibody response in broiler chickens

The gut microbiome, consisting of a diverse community of beneficial bacteria, supports broiler health and performance. This study aimed to assess the impact of probiotic lactic acid bacteria supplementation on growth performance, blood parameters, and antibody response in broiler chickens. The experiment involved 108 Cobb 500 breed chicks, which were allocated into three groups: T1 (received basal diets + L. reuteri at 1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL), T2 (received basal diets + P. pentosaceus at 1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL), and T3 (control group receiving only basal diets). The chicks were assigned to these groups randomly, following a completely randomized design. The results showed that the broiler groups supplemented with either L. reuteri or P. pentosaceus probiotics exhibited significant improvements (p < 0.05) in body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio throughout the study. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in total protein and albumin levels. At the same time, cholesterol levels were lower in the L. reuteri and P. pentosaceus-treated groups compared to the control group. Furthermore, the hemagglutination inhibition titer of Newcastle disease was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the groups supplemented with L. reuteri and P. pentosaceus. The study also found that the lymphoid organ weight/body weight ratio was significantly higher in the L. reuteri and P. pentosaceus groups. In conclusion, the oral administration of the probiotic strains L. reuteri DSM 20016T and P. pentosaceus DSM 20206 to broiler chickens improved growth performance, reduced blood cholesterol levels, and enhanced immune function. These findings indicate that these lactic acid bacteria could be beneficial as both immunomodulators and growth promoters in broiler production.