EFFECT OF BROILACT(R) ON THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL CONDITIONS AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT OF BROILERS

The effect of the competitive exclusion (CE) product BROILACT(R) on Sa lmonella colonization, nutrient digestibility, and the ME of the feed and the production of volatile fatty adds in the chicken gut was evalu ated. The ileal viscosity and the fecal dry matter content were also d etermined. Newly hatched broiler chicks were given BROILACT(R) 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 stu dy and 2 wk later, chicks from each treatment group were taken to sepa rate facilities to be challenged with Salmonella. Five and 4 d later, the chides were killed and their intestines were examined for Salmonel la. The results of the present study show that BROILACT(R) protected t he chicks against Salmonella, decreased the viscosity of the ileal con tents, and increased the fecal dry matter content, and increased the M E value of the feed by 1.6% and the concentration of propionic acid in the cecal contents.