Interaction effect of prebiotic products as feed additives and rearing systems on performance, slaughter yield and intestinal health of broiler chickens

The aim of this study was to determine the interactive effects of prebiotics and rearing systems on the performance, gut microbiota, and health of broilers. A total of 576 one-day-old male Ross 308 chicks were used in a 3 × 2 factorial experiment. Three feed additives (control, 1 g gum Arabic (GA)/kg, and 1 g inactive Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC)/kg) were evaluated in a floor system with 8 replicates per feed additive (12 chicks/replicate) or a cage system with 16 replicates per feed additive (6 chicks/replicate). Body weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were assessed at the ages of 14 and 34 days. At 34 days of age, carcass yield was evaluated, and the microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the cecum as well as gene expression and histomorphometry in the ileum were determined. Our results indicated that GA and SC increased body weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake, carcass weight, acetic acid, and total SCFAs concentrations( P <0.05 ) and improved the immune response of broilers ( P <0.05 ). GA and SC showed higher ( P <0.01 ) count of Lactobacillus spp . and lower (P <0.05) count of Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli. Floor system had lower ( P <0.05 ) daily feed intake and higher carcass weight, legs weight, Lactobacillus spp . count, sIgA , total SCFAs, and villus length. IL-1β, SIgA , and goblet cells were increased ( P <0.05 ) by GA and SC in both rearing systems than the controls. The results suggest that identical effects between the two prebiotic products with the synergistic potential of prebiotic products and floor systems may improve performance and promote intestinal health in broilers. ‎