Table 1.
Effect of in ovo administration of Bacillus spp. base probiotic (BBP) on microbial composition in the gastrointestinal tract of hatching broiler chickens, hatchability, body weight (g), and horizontal transmission of virulent E. coli during hatch.
| Treatment | Gram-negative bacterial recovery DOH (Log10 cfu/g) | Gram-negative bacterial recovery day 7 (Log10 cfu/g) | Hatchability (%) | Average BW DOH (CV) | Average BW day 7 (CV) | Average BWG days 0 to 7 (CV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trial 1 | ||||||
| In ovo PBS Control | 5.70 ± 0.28a | 7.43 ± 0.12a | 174/180 (96.66%) | 40.03 ± 0.07b (0.089) | 164.56 ± 2.52b (0.120) | 116.93 ± 2.63b (0.144) |
| In ovo 107 cfu/mL BBP | 4.32 ± 0.91b | 4.11 ± 0.47b | 175/180 (97.22%) | 47.77 ± 0.86a (0.086) | 175.15 ± 2.71a (0.097) | 127.38 ± 2.69a (0.112) |
| Trial 2 | ||||||
| In ovo PBS Control | 4.92 ± 0.32a | 6.34 ± 0.33a | 176/180 (97.77%)) | 41.30 ± 0.03b (0.099) | 161.31 ± 2.68b (0.140) | 111.81 ± 1.91b (0.137) |
| In ovo 107 cfu/mL BBP | 3.41 ± 0.81b | 3.89 ± 0.35b | 178/180 (98.88%) | 42.77 ± 0.11a (0.120) | 181.15 ± 2.71a (0.150) | 138.38 ± 3.69a (0.160) |
Hatchability total: hatched chickens/total embryos placed (%). Body weight (BW), n = 30.
a,b
Indicates significant difference between columns (P < 0.05).