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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » Livestock Behavior Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #350153
Research Project: Protecting the Welfare of Food Producing Animals

Location: Livestock Behavior Research

Title: Supplementation of Bacillus subtilis based probiotic reduces heat stress-related behaviors and inflammatory response in broiler chickens

Author
item WANG, WEICHAO - Purdue University
item YAN, FEIFEI - Purdue University
item HU, JIAYING - Purdue University
item HUANG, XIAOHONG - Purdue University
item Cheng, Heng Wei

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/6/2018
Publication Date: 5/4/2018
Citation: Wang, W., Yan, F., Hu, J., Huang, X., Cheng, H. 2018. Supplementation of Bacillus subtilis based probiotic reduces heat stress-related behaviors and inflammatory response in broiler chickens. Journal of Animal Science. 96(5):1654-1666. doi:10.1093/jas/sky092.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/sky092

Interpretive Summary: Heat stress has been recognized as a critical environmental stressor reducing performance, health and well-being of farm animals including poultry. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of probiotics on broiler health under heat stress. Results showed that the dietary probiotic supplementation reduces the negative effects of heat stress on chicken behavior and immunity. This information can be used by egg producers to develop management guidelines for improving chicken health and welfare.

Technical Abstract: Probiotics reduce stress-related inflammation and abnormal behaviors in humans and rodents via regulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The objective of this study was to determine if probiotic, Bacillus subtilis, has similar functions in broiler chickens under heat stress (HS). Two hundred forty 1-day-old broiler chicks were assigned to 48 pens with 4 treatments: Thermoneutral (TN)-RD (regular diet), TN-PD (the regular diet mixed with probiotic), HS-RD and HS-PD. Probiotic was fed from day 1; and HS at 32 ºC for 10 h daily was initiated at day 15. The data showed that final BW, ADG and feed conversion efficiency were improved in PD groups as compared to RD groups regardless of the ambient temperature (P < 0.01). Heterophil to lymphocyte ratio was affected by treatment; and its value was in the order of HS-RD > HS-PD > TN-RD > TN-PD birds (P < 0.01). Compared to TN birds, HS birds spent more time wing spreading, panting, squatting close to the ground, drinking, sleeping, dozing and sitting; but less time eating, standing and walking (P < 0.05 or 0.01). In addition, HS birds had higher levels of hepatic IL-6, IL-10, heat shock protein (HSP)70 and HSP70 mRNA (P < 0.01); and higher levels of cecal IgA and IgY (P < 0.01) compared to TN birds. Within TN groups, TN-PD birds had higher concentrations of hepatic IL-10 (P < 0.05) and cecal IgA (P < 0.01) than TN-RD birds. Within HS groups, HS-PD birds spent less time wing spreading, panting, squatting close to the ground, drinking, sleeping, dozing and sitting; but more time eating, foraging, standing and walking than HS-RD birds (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The HS-PD birds also had lower concentrations of hepatic IL-6 and HSP70 (P < 0.01), whereas higher levels of IL-10 (P < 0.05); and lower concentrations of cecal IgA and IgY (P < 0.01). These results indicate that broilers fed the probiotic, bacillus subtilis, are able to cope with HS more effectively by ameliorating heat-induced behavioral and inflammatory reactions through regulation of microbiota-modulated immunity.