Performance and fecal flora of calves fed a Bacillus subtilis concentrate

Effect of administration of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria to newborn calves and piglets

The effect of oral administration of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria on newborn livestock was investigated. Oral administration of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum or Lactobacillus acidophilus to calves improved BW gain and feed conversion over that of untreated controls. The frequency of diarrhea occurrence was decreased in the group fed probiotics. However, there was no significant difference between calves administered B. pseudolongum and those administered L. acidophilus. Under conditions of feeding without antibiotics, the frequency of diarrhea was decreased markedly by administration of probiotics. The BW gain of piglets was significantly greater during both the suckling and weaning periods for the group fed probiotics than for the control group. The effect was more evident during the suckling period than during the weaning period. Under conditions of feeding without antibiotics, the frequency of piglet mortality was decreased markedly by administration of probiotics. The probiotics tested here had useful effects, including improved BW gain, feed conversion, and fecal condition of both newborn calves and piglets.

Effect of dried Bacillus subtilis culture on growth, body composition and hepatic lipogenic enzyme activity in female broiler chicks

To investigate the effect of dried Bacillus subtilis culture on growth, body composition and hepatic lipogenic enzyme activity, female broiler chicks were fed on either no additive (control) or dried B. subtilis-culture-supplemented commercial diets (215 g crude protein/kg, 12.85 MJ metabolizable energy/kg) at 10 or 20 g/kg diet for 28 d from 14 to 42 d of age. Body weight, and moisture, fat, protein and ash contents of the body were not influenced by the B. subtilis culture. Feed efficiency, N utilization, the ratio of abdominal fat or liver to body weight, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.2) activity, liver and serum cholesterol contents were significantly lower in treatment groups, while fatty acid synthetase activity and serum cholesterol concentration were not significantly different, compared with the control group. Liver triacylglycerol concentration was decreased in chicks given 20 g culture/kg diet, while serum and carcass triacylglycerol concentrations were significantly lower in treatment groups than in the control group. Serum phospholipid concentration was increased but carcass phospholipid concentration was decreased in chicks given 20 g B. subtilis/kg diet, while liver phospholipid concentration was not significantly influenced. The advantages of inclusion of B. subtilis to the broiler diet included improved feed efficiency, less abdominal fat, reduced triacylglycerol concentrations in the liver, serum and carcass and reduced cholesterol concentrations in the liver and carcass.