Computed Tomography-Based Assessment of Bone Morphometry and Mineral Concentrations in Broilers Fed Diets Supplemented with Probiotics and Phytogenic Additives

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with the probiotic Zoovit LL—alone or in combination with a phytogenic blend—on bone morphometry and mineral concentrations in broilers by computed tomography (CT) and ICP-MS analysis. A total of 180 one-day-old male ROSS 308 chicks were randomly assigned to three groups with three replicates of 20 chicks each: control (standard diet), Zoovit LL (0.25%) and Zoovit LL (0.25%) in combination with Silybum marianum, Urtica dioica and Taraxacum officinale in a total amount of 1%. After 42 days, two birds were averaged within each replicate, resulting in three independent experimental units per treatment (n = 3 per group). Femurs were examined by CT for bone length, cortical bone thickness, diameters and radiodensity, while determination of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium concentrations in the sternum was performed by ICP-MS. No statistically significant effects of the nutritional supplements were found on the bone parameters assessed by computed tomography or on the mineral concentrations in the sternum. The results show that under the conditions of the present study, the addition of the probiotic alone or in combination with the phytogenic mixture did not lead to statistically significant changes in the specific parameters studied.