Evaluation of health benefits of membrane extracted prebiotics and lacto-probiotics in Japanese quails

The effect of feeding prebiotic extract of green gram and probiotic culture (Bifidobacterium bifidum 232) on selected health indicators such as performance, fecal coliforms, fecal pH, serum lipids and humoral response against the Newcastle disease virus was studied in Japanese quails for five weeks period. Birds were divided into four groups namely, Group-I which served as control group, Group-II was fed with 0.05% (w/w) of green gram prebiotic extract, Group-III was supplemented with 0.1% (w/w) of freeze-dried culture (3.0 × 10⁹ CFU/g) of Bifidobacterium bifidum 232 and 0.05% (w/w) prebiotic extract, respectively. Group-IV received 0.1% (w/w) of freeze-dried culture (3.0 × 10⁹ CFU/g) of Bifidobacterium bifidum 232 alone, in feed.

Group III birds showed a significant (P<0.01) improvement in the live body mass throughout the experimental period as compared to other treatment groups and control. The feed intake was significantly (P<0.01) lower in Group-III and IV (Table 1) when compared with control group. The feed consumption ratio (FCR) was significantly (P<0.01) lower in pre and probiotic fed groups when compared with other treatment groups. There was a significant decrease in fecal coliforms, in birds fed with pre- and probiotics as compared to the control group. The birds fed with pre and probiotics separately and prebiotics alone showed lower fecal pH values than the control group. There was a significant (P<0.01) decrease in the serum cholesterol level at the end of 3^rd and 5^th week in Group III and IV birds, suggesting an influence of pre and probiotics in altering cholesterol levels. Further, the antibody titers against the Newcastle disease virus as a measure of humoral response was significantly (P<0.01) higher at the end of 5^th week in the experimental groups (Group III and IV), indicating the immunomodulatory effect of pre and probiotics.

The present experimental investigation suggests that the combined feeding of green gram prebiotic extracts and probiotic strain Bifidobacterium bifidum 232 resulted in a significant (P<0.01) improvement of live body mass, reduced fecal coliforms, fecal pH, decreased serum cholesterol and enhanced humoral immunity in birds.