Haematological and Serum Biochemical Responses of Broiler Chickens to Lactobacillus Probiotic Supplementation
Abstract
This study evaluated the haematological and serum biochemical responses of two broiler chicken breeds, Arbor Acre and Ross, to different levels of Lactobacillus probiotic supplementation. This experiment was a completely randomized design with 2 × 4 factorial arrangements where 240 day-old mixed-sex broiler chicks of both Arbor Acre and Ross chicken breeds were allotted to four groups and fed 0, 5, 10, and 15 mL of Lactobacillus, respectively. The results of the haematological analysis indicated that the packed cell volume, RBC count, and haemoglobin were significantly enhanced, and the best enhancements were with 10 mL supplementation level. These changes were more pronounced in Ross chickens, breed specifically. The promising results in serum biochemistry took in renal function markers, lowered total cholesterol levels, and possible immunomodulatory consequences. Dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus positively altered the blood characteristic within the normal physiological range. Significantly different mineral profiles, enzymatic activities, and protein metabolisms between breeds and levels of dietary supplementation were recorded. The results suggest that probiotic supplementation can optimize broilers' health, and the daily dosage of 10 ml seems to impart the most pronounced benefits.
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Introduction
Poultry production is one of the mainstays in ensuring global food security, with broiler chicken meat being one of the key protein sources for millions of people around the world. With growing demand for improved efficiency and sustainable meat production, scientists and agricultural professionals are turning more toward nutritional interventions that could optimize health, performance, and immune function in birds. Probiotics have emerged as one of the promising strategies in improving broiler chicken production because they have certain advantages over antibiotic interventions (Gadde et al., 2017). In general, probiotics have been a good area for animal nutrition scientists as they modulate gut microbiota, digestion, and immunity. These populations can attach to the gastrointestinal tract as a competitor against pathogenic microorganisms to promote better health in birds as evidenced by Mohd Shaufi et al., (2015). The modes of action for these are rather complex because of interactions between microbial population populations with intestinal epithelium cells and the immune system as a whole, making this an interesting area of science to venture into.
Haematological and serum biochemical parameters are vital in assessing the physiological response of broilers to dietary manipulations. These parameters are sensitive indicators of metabolic status, immunity and health, thus providing insight to the researcher on nutritional supplements, including probiotics, which influence the physiology of birds (Bah et al., 2022). Probiotics have also been seen in various studies to alter characteristics of blood profiles across different animals, which may indicate better metabolic efficiency and immunity.
Despite the increased interest in probiotic applications, results have been highly variable due to a variety of probiotic strains, dosages, and conditions of the experiment (Al-Shawi et al., 2020). That variability showed the need for broad-based studies that assess the effects of certain Lactobacillus strains on several health markers of broiler chickens. According to Shokryazdan et al. (2017), understanding such disparate responses is crucial in developing target nutritional strategies that will enhance the production potential and welfare of broiler chickens. This present study is aimed at comprehensively investigating the haematological and serum biochemical responses of broiler chickens fed with Lactobacillus probiotic supplementation. A battery of physiological parameters was employed to seethe possible mechanism through which these useful microorganisms impact the health and performance of birds. This work also contributes to the ever-growing knowledge in the application of probiotics in poultry nutrition and helps to foster more efficient, sustainable agricultural practices.
Conclusion
The holistic investigation into Lactobacillus probiotic supplementation in broilers justifies the utilization of targeted nutritional interventions within poultry, as represented by a number of physiological gains. The clear trends of optimum improvement in haematological and biochemical indices, as established in this study, were evident at the 10-ml supplementation level. This work has clearly demonstrated that it is possible to positively modulate blood cell production, immune response, and metabolic efficiency through supplementation with probiotics.
The apparent variability between Arbor Acre and Ross chickens strengthens the argument for consideration of genetics in formulating nutritional programs. Such differences in response suggest that future research is warranted directly toward developing breed-specific probiotic protocols which better realize the utmost in the expression of individual genetic potential. In this aspect, further normalization in reduced kidney function markers and cholesterol levels may be considerate of the health benefits emanating from strategic probiotic supplementation.
Based on this, supplementing 10 mL of Lactobacillus probiotics daily, especially to the Ross breed chicken, is recommended for poultry farms. This provides strong evidence, especially in enhancing the haematological profile, probably by modulating the immune system and optimizing metabolism. Nevertheless, the full elucidation of these mechanisms of improvement and more refined supplementation strategies require further long-term studies. Further studies may want to focus on the exact strains of Lactobacillus, the effect of those on breed genetics, and long-term use implications on health and productivity.
