This article evaluated the effects of supplemental probiotic Bacillus subtilis (Bs) ATCC 6051a (1.6x10(9) cfu/mL) in diets for weaned piglets on their performance and on the occurrence of diarrhoea. Sixty piglets, 30 ±3 days old with initial bodyweight of 8.41±0.92 kg, were allotted randomly to six pens of ten piglets. There were two replicates of each treatment, namely a control diet (C), a diet supplemented with 1% Bs (E1), and a diet supplemented with 3% Bs (E2). Feed was provided ad libitum as flour in two meals per day. Feed materials were examined for total numbers of fungi, aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TNG), Coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. The addition of Bs did not influence (P >0.05) bodyweight (BW) or average daily weight gain (ADWG). However, across the experimental period ADWG was greater in E2 and E1 than in C (>1.12 and 1.08 times compared with C). Feed intake (ADFI) by pigs fed C was greater than pigs fed E1 and E2. Feed efficiency was higher in E1 and E2 than the C diet. Addition of 1% Bs decreased (P<0.05) diarrhoea occurrence around 8% compared with C, and 4% compared with 3% Bs. A total of 23.4% of the piglets produced soft faeces. Diarrhoea scores of 2 (mild diarrhoea) and 3 (severe diarrhoea) were observed in 43.75% and 32.81% of the pigs. No differences (P >0.05) were detected between the treatments. The results suggested that E1 could positively affect growth performance and mitigate the occurrence of diarrhoea.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary hydroalcoholic willow bark extract powder (HWE) supplemented to broilers (14-42 days old) that were exposed to heat stress, on the performance, serum biochemical parameters, liver oxidative status and caecal microflora. The feeding trial was conducted on 120 Cobb 500 broilers (14 days old), assigned to three treatments (T0, T25, and T50), each treatment consisting of eight replicates (five chicks per replicate). The broilers were housed in an experimental hall at a 32 °C constant temperature and 23 hours light regimen. Unlike the dietary control treatment (T0), the experimental treatments were supplemented with 25 g HWE powder/100 kg diet (T25), and 50 g HWE powder 100 kg diet (T50), respectively. Dietary HWE powder did not affect the broilers' performance significantly (14-42 days). A significantly lower amount of malondialdehyde was noticed in the liver of broilers from T25 and T50 treatments in comparison with broilers from T0. Also, the serum cholesterol, triglycerides and alanine aminotransferase were significantly lower in broilers fed with T50, compared with those fed with T0. At 35 and at 42 days, the broilers from T25 and T50 recorded a significantly lower number of E. coli and staphylococci and a higher number of lactobacilli in the caecum than those of T0. It could be concluded that supplementation of dietary HWE powder reduced some of the adverse effects of heat stress, the most effective being the level of 50 g/100 kg diet.

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Artemisia (Artemisia annua) supplementation as essential oil and powder, in broiler diet on performance and intestinal microflora. One hundred and eighty Cobb 500 broiler chicks assigned to three experimental groups (six replicates with 10 broilers per replicate) were housed in an environment-controlled house. Compared to the control diet, the experimental diets included 0.05 g kg-1 Artemisia essential oil (E1), 0.05 g kg-1 essential oil plus 0.1 g kg-1 powder of Artemisia (E2), respectively. Growth performance was monitored throughout days 14-42. Artemisia supplementation (E1, E2) did not influence growth performance of the chicks. Compared to the C and E1, the chicks from E2 group had a lower count of Enterobacteriaceae in the intestinal and caecal content, both at 35 and at 42 days. The Artemisia supplements did not influence the staphylococci populations from the intestinal content of the chicks (42 days), but in the caecal content samples, this count was lower in E2 (8.836 log10 cfu g-1) than in C (8.876 log10 cfu g-1) and E1 (8.870 log10 cfu g-1). The count of lactobacilli increased in the intestinal and caecal contents of chickens fed the diet supplemented with Artemisia at the 35th and 42nd day. Diet supplementation with A. annua essential oil and powder could be an effective solution in maintaining the proper microflora balance in the chicks’ intestine.

ABSTRACT The 21 days feeding trial was conducted on 90, Cobb 500 broilers (aged 14 days), assigned to 3 groups (C, E1 and E2) housed in an experimental hall at 32° C constant temperature and 23 h light regimen. During the growth period (14-35 days), the conventional diet (C) had corn and soybean meal as basic ingredients. Unlike the conventional diet formulation (C), the diet formulations for the experimental groups also included 0.005% Artemisia annua oil (E1) and 0.005% Artemisia annua oil plus 1% Artemisia annua powder (E2). Six broilers per group were slaughtered at 35 days of age in order to measure the weight of the carcass and internal organs of broilers, and samples of intestinal and caecal content were collected for bacteriological assessment (Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, staphylococci, Lactobacilli, Salmonella spp.).The following parameters were monitored during the experimental period: bodyweight (g); average daily feed intake (g feed/broiler/day); average daily weight gain (g/broiler/day); feed conversion ratio (g feed/g gain). Under heat stress (32 ºC), E2 broilers (mixture of A. annua oil and powder) had a significantly (p<0.05) higher average of daily feed intake than the broilers receiving the C diet or the diet supplemented just with A. annua oil (E1). Both samples of intestinal and caecal content, showed the lowest count (p<0.05) of Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli and staphylococcus colony forming units in E2 broilers. Diet with A. annua oil and powder provided proper conditions for lactic acid bacteria proliferation in the intestine and caecum of heat stressed broilers.

Weaning is associated with several stress factors and their effects on the piglet's body are fairly well known. Thus, changes were estimated in certain serum and faecal parameters after weaning owing to dietary protein level, though essential amino acid (AA) levels were maintained or reduced. Eighteen Topigs piglets were assigned randomly to three homogenous groups. The dietary protein level was reduced by 10% in diets 1 and 2 compared with diet C. Diet 1 had similar levels of essential AA to diet C, while the levels of essential AA in diet 2 were reduced by 10%. Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture in the farrowing unit on four occasions: before and after separation from the sow; the day after transfer to the nursery; and seven days after weaning. Faecal excreta were collected daily. No major health problems arose, and total pathogen germs were not different among treatments. Cortisol concentration reached similar values to those from the farrowing unit seven days after weaning. Whatever the diet, vitamin E in plasma decreased significantly in the first seven days post weaning. The reduction of dietary protein, as well as essential AAs, adversely affected the concentration of Cu (by 17.3%) in plasma. Selenium concentration in plasma increased slightly, irrespective of diet. The authors conclude that providing dietary protein at a particular level (diet 1), while maintaining AAs at normal level, limits faecal nitrogenous content without significantly modifying stress indicators (except vitamin E) or faecal composition.