Repression of Clostridium population in young broiler chickens after administration of a probiotic mixture

The influence of the administration of a mixed probiotic on zootechnical performances and the microbial composition of the feces of young broilers, up 42 days old, was investigated. In a six weeks trial the feed was supplemented with 1(w/w)% of a mixture of five potentially probiotic strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Enterococcus. No effect on the weight of the broilers was observed. Plate counting of fecal samples showed a decrease in the Clostridium population with more than 4 10log units after 5 days and 2 10log units after 14 days of treatment. The DGGE pattern obtained after nested PCR, revealed a significant shift in the Lactobacillus population. This study shows that the application of probiotics in the feed of broiler chickens considerably lowers the Clostridium population in broilers, hereby also lowering the risk of spreading in the housing through fecal contamination.