EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION WITH LACTOSUCROSE (4(G)-BETA-D-GALACTOSYLSUCROSE) ON CECAL FLORA, CECAL METABOLITES, AND PERFORMANCE IN BROILER-CHICKENS

The effects of dietary lactosucrose on cecal flora, cecal metabolites, and performance were studied in eight 20-d-old and eight 62-d-old bro iler chickens fed a basal diet (control) or a diet with .15% lactosucr ose added. On Day 20 of age, the frequency of occurrence of lecithinas e-negative clostridia were decreased (P<.05) by lactosucrose consumpti on. On Day 62 of age, the numbers of bifidobacteria were increased (P< .05) by lactosucrose consumption, but the counts of lecithinase-positi ve clostridia, including Clostridium perfringens, bacteriodaceae, and staphylococci, total anaerobic bacteria, and the frequency of occurren ce of pseudomonads were decreased (P<.05). No detectable change was ob served in counts of other organisms throughout the experimental period . Cecal concentration of ammonia (P<.01), phenol (P<.05), and cresol ( P<.05) were decreased on Day 62 of lactosucrose consumption. Acetic ac id and butyric acid were increased (P <.01 and P<.05, respectively) on Day 62 of lactosucrose consumption. Environmental ammonia and odor of chicken ceca were greatly reduced by lactosucrose consumption.