Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition

Day old Vencobb broiler chicks of either sex with uniform body weight were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments viz. T₁ (basal diet), T₂ (basal diet+probiotic @ 50 g/tonne of feed), T₃ (basal diet+acidifier @ 2 kg/tonne of feed), T₄ (basal diet+probiotic @ 50 g/tonne of feed+acidifier @ 2 kg/tonne of feed). The chicks were fed with starter ration up to 21 days and finisher ration from 22 to 42 days of age. The antibody titres in the probiotics–acidifier (T₄) groups showed significantly higher (P<0.05) values than control birds (T₁). Intestinal (caecal) coliform count (log₁₀ CFU/g) was found to be lower (P<0.05) in the probiotics-acidifier combination group (T₄) as compared to others. Villus height, crypt depth and ratio of villus height to crypt depth was higher (P<0.05) for the combination group (T₄) than those for the control group. Serum glucose, urea, creatinine, calcium and phosphorus levels were similar in all the groups whereas the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride were found to be higher (P<0.05) in group T₁ as compared to other groups. It was concluded that supplementation of probiotic, acidifier or their combination improved the immunity status, intestinal morphology, gut health and lowered the serum cholesterol and triglyceride level in the broiler birds.