Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Probiotic (Problend) on Immune Status, Biochemical Profile and E. coli Counts in Commercial Broiler Chicken

An experiment was conducted to study the infuence of dietary supplementation, of graded level of probiotics on the immune response, serum biochemical (total protein, cholesterol), and E.coli counts in commercial broiler chicken. A total of 240 unsexed broiler chicks were distributed randomly in to six dietary treatments and reared commercial broiler chicks under uniform management conditions from day old to six weeks of age to evaluate the immune response (Cell mediated immunity (CMI) to phyto heamagglutinin-P(PHA-P), Humoral immunity (HI) to new castle disease vaccine(NDV), serum biochemical (total protein, cholesterol), and E.coli counts. The humoral immune response to Sheep-Red blood cells (SRBC) as studied at 42 days old indicated insignifcant (P>0.05) infuence due to dietary treatments, while CMI response to PHA-P was signifcantly (P<0.05) affected, but no specifc trend could be attributed. The relative weights of bursa were signifcantly (P<0.05) higher in probiotic group compared to control. The concentration of serum cholesterol and total protein were not affected due to treatments. At 42 days of age, signifcantly (P<0.05) reduced E. coli counts were observed in small intestine and excreta of broilers, supplemented with dietary probiotics. It was concluded that commercial broilers can be reared proftably to improve immunity and reducing harmful bacterial load in the intestine and excreta by supplementation of probiotics at graded levels.