The addition of the synbiotic reduced Escherichia coli and total coliform populations in the intestines of broiler chickens in an experiment, according to Seyed Morteza Dibaji of the Islamic Azad University in Rasht, Iran and co-authors there and the University of the Azores, Portugal, of a paper published in Journal of Applied Poultry Research.

Furthermore, different levels of probiotic increased the numbers of lactobacilli in the intestine of broiler chickens; concentrations of the synbiotic higher than the recommended levels in the diet increased the lactic acid bacteria population in the gut of broiler chickens.

The current experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of a synbiotic (Biomin Imbo) on intestinal microflora of Ross broiler chickens. A total of 200 male chickens were randomly divided into 20 groups of 10 birds each, kept in 20 pens (1.5 × 1.0 metres each), and fed for 42 days at different synbiotic levels.

Treatments included:

• a basal diet without synbiotics (control)
• a basal diet with synbiotic levels proposed by the manufacturer
• a basal diet with synbiotic levels 25 per cent lower than those proposed by the manufacturer
• a basal diet with synbiotic levels 50 per cent higher than those proposed by the manufacturer, and
• a basal diet with synbiotic levels 25 per cent higher than those proposed by the manufacturer.

At the end of the 42-day feeding period, one bird was randomly selected from each experimental unit, humanely euthanised, and the caecum was removed to measure the microbial population. The caecal contents were collected in discharge containers for microbial cultures, and counts were conducted after microbial culture.

Reference

Dibaji S.M., A. Seidavi, L. Asadpour and F. Moreira da Silva. 2014. Effect of a synbiotic on the intestinal microflora of chickens. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 23(1):1-6. doi:10.3382/japr.2012-00709