Effect of probiotics on crop wight and crop Amyloytic activity in broiler chickens

The present experiment was designed to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (0.1%), Lactobacillus sporogenes (0.1%), their combination (0.050/0 and 0.050/0) and Provilacc® (0.1%) on the growth and development of crop and the alpha amylase activity in crop contents at weekly intervals up to six weeks of age in brolier chickens compared to control group. The control group received basal diet. The mean relative crop weight in the probiotics supplemented groups was signifiacantly (P <0.05) lower compared to control group at the end of fIrst week ollly. The assay of alpha amylase in crop contents revealed significantly higher levels in the probiotics supplemented groups. The reduction in crop weight in probiotic supplemented groups at the end of first week could be probably attributed to secretion of probiotic source of alpha amylase enzyme by the probiotics established in the crop at the early stage of growth in broiler chickens. It was also concluded that, increased amylolytic activity in the crop contents of probiotics supplemented groups was due to probiotic source of amylases that could also help in better digestion, nutrient assimilation and growth promotion.