Effects ofClostridium butyricum on growth performance, antioxidation, and immune function of broilers

To investigate the effects ofClostridium butyricum on growth performance, antioxidation, and immune function of broilers, 320 one-day-old Arbor Acres commercial male chicks were assigned to one of 5 treatments with 8 replicates in a completely randomized design for 42 d. The 5 treatments were basal diet (control), basal diet supplemented with 2.5 × 10⁸ cfuC. butyricum/kg (CB1), basal diet supplemented with 5 × 10⁸ cfuC. butyricum/kg (CB2), basal diet supplemented with 1 × 10⁹ cfuC. butyricum/kg (CB3), and basal diet supplemented with 150 mg aureomycin/kg (antibiotic). The results showed that allC. butyricum–supplemented groups during d 1 to 21 and the CB2 group during d 22 to 42 had higher ADG compared with the control (P < 0.05). Chicks fed the CB3 diet had higher glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity (P < 0.05), and chicks fed the CB2 diet had a higher glutathione (GSH) concentration in duodenal and ileal mucosa at 21 d of age than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Chicks fed the CB3 diet had a lower malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in duodenal mucosa than those in the control and CB1 groups (P < 0.05). Chicks fed the CB2, CB3, and antibiotic diets had a lower MDA concentration in ileal mucosa than those in the control and CB1 groups (P < 0.05). Broilers fed the CB3 diet had greater superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the ileal mucosa on d 21 and in jejunal mucosa on d 42 than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). Chicks fed the CB2, CB3, and antibiotic diets had a higher GSH concentration in duodenal and jejunal mucosa on d 42 than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Broilers fed the CB2 and CB3 diets had a lower MDA concentration in the jejunal mucosa on d 42 than those in the control and CB1 groups. Chicks fed diets supplemented withC. butyricum had a higher IgM concentration than those in the control group at 21 and 42 d of age (P < 0.05). The results indicate thatC. butyricum improves broilers’ growth performance, antioxidation, and immune function.