Effect of BROILACT on the physicochemical conditions and nutrient digestibility in the gastrointestinal tract of broilers.

The effect of the competitive exclusion (CE) product BROILACT on Salmonella colonization, nutrient digestibility, and the ME of the feed and the production of volatile fatty acids in the chicken gut was evaluated. The ileal viscosity and the fecal dry matter content were also determined. Newly hatched broiler chicks were given BROILACT orally either once on the day of hatch or five times during a period of 2 wk. Samples were taken at 12 and 31 d of age. In the beginning of the study and 2 wk later, chicks from each treatment group were taken to separate facilities to be challenged with Salmonella. Five and 4 d later, the chicks were killed and their intestines were examined for Salmonella. The results of the present study show that BROILACT protected the chicks against Salmonella, decreased the viscosity of the ileal contents, and increased the fecal dry matter content, and increased the ME value of the feed by 1.6% and the concentration of propionic acid in the cecal contents.