Six experiments were carried out with Single Comb White Leghorn laying chickens to
assess the effect of feeding a source of direct-fed microbials (Lactobacillus; Lacto) and its
carrier [condensed cane molasses solubles (CCMS)] on the retentions of fat, nitrogen and
several minerals; on the status of the pH of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract; on the phytase
activities in the Lacto and in the crop and in the intestinal contents and intestinal, pancreatic
and liver tissues; on the histological and anatomical changes of the GI tract and on the
production performance.
Feeding 1,100 mg Lacto/kg diet (ppm) and 2,200 ppm Lacto in corn-soya bean meal
(C-S) diets to layers stimulated appetite, improved egg production (in Experiment 1 only), egg
mass, egg weight, egg size, internal egg quality and fat, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus
retentions (P < .05). Production performances were not different between the layers fed the
1,100 ppm diet and those fed the 2,200 ppm Lacto diet. Supplementing Lacto diets with 1 and
3% fat reduced feed consumption, provided better feed conversion, egg production, egg
masses, egg size, body weight gains, and nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus retentions.
Feeding 1,100 ppm Lacto barley-corn-soya bean (B-C-S) layer diets improved body
weight gains and the retentions of fat, phosphorus and manganese and increased the rate of
passage of digesta (P < .05). Feeding Lacto C-S and Lacto B-C-S layer diets increased
cellularity of Peyer's patches in the ileums of the layers which may stimulate the mucosal
immune system. No changes in length and weight of the intestine were observed.
Daily feed consumption and body weight gains were improved when pullets were fed
1,100 ppm Lacto from 7 to 19 wk of age (WOA). When these pullets were continued on the
Lacto feed during the laying period (20 to 59 WOA), increased feed consumption, egg size,
nitrogen and calcium retentions, increased cellularity of Peyer's patches, decreased length and
weight of intestine were observed (P < .05).
Presence of phytase activity was higher in condensed cane molasses solubles (CCMS)-
Lactobacillus premix than the carrier (CCMS). Feeding the CCMS-Lacto diets to layers
decreased the pH of the GI tract, increased phytase activities in the GI tract and intestinal
tissues and improved shell thickness and phosphorus retention (P < .05). The production
performance of layers fed .45% and .25% available phosphorus (AP) diets were not different
except for body weight gain. Phosphorus retention was better for layers fed diets containing
.25% AP with CCMS-Lacto than the .45% AP control diet.
According to these studies, feeding Lacto to pullets and layers improved their
performance and the retention of nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen which
subsequently reduced the cost of feeding. / Graduation date: 1994
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/36363 |
| Date | 23 February 1994 |
| Creators | Nahashon, Samuel N. |
| Contributors | Nakaue, Harry S. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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