Effect of adding different levels of probiotics to broilers diets on gastrointestinal tract development and production performance

Probiotics are used as alternative in diets. Probiotics, as defined by many authors, are food additives consisting of living microorganisms that have beneficial effects on the physiology and health of organisms. Microorganisms are most commonly used by lactic acid bacteria which are part of the bio- preparations, for poultry animals in improving their health and production parameters. The objective of this work is to determine the effect of different doses of probiotics on broiler Ross 308 in terms of improving its production and digestive tract development. The study evaluated the addition of different doses of probiotics offered orally in relation to weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion in broilers. Comparison was also made in development of gastrointestinal tract, based on villi level of intestinal walls. In feed intake, differences were not significant (P >0.05). Daily weight gain of treatments with higher level of probiotic was higher (P 0.05). Measurements of intestinal villi in duodenum were not different (P > 0.05). In jejunum and ileum, villi length and extent of muscle layer in treatment three were different compared to other treatments (P <0.05). It was concluded that 1.5 ml of probiotics supplement improves body weight gain and measurement of the villi and muscle layer of jejunum and ileum. Key words: Broilers, organ weight, performance, probiotic, villi measurements.