Broiler

P. Medel1, S. Fuji2, T. Marubashi2, M. Kato2, and D. M. Hooge3,

1 Imasde Agropecuraria, S.L., Madrid, Spain, 2 Calpis Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan, 3 Hooge Consulting Service, Inc., Eagle Mountain, UT.

Abstract

Four 42-d broiler pen trials were conducted with dietary Bacillus subtilis C-3102 spores (Bs C-3102; CALSPORIN®; 1 x 106 cfu/g feed) and without the direct-fed microbial (nCON) at contract research facilities in Belgium (INVE-CLO, Dendermonde), Scotland (Roslin Nutrition, Midlothian), Denmark (Danish Research Centre, Foulum), and Spain (IRTA, Reus). The feeding trials began in September 2003 (mash), October 2003 (pelleted), January 2004 (pelleted), and June 2004 (pelleted), respectively. Results were used for approval by the European Commission (Official J. of the E.U., L 271/19, 30.9.2006). Broiler strains were Ross 308 (13 pens 36M and 12 pens 36F/trt), Ross 308 (16 pens 40M and 16 pens 40F/trt), Ross 308 (24 pens of 12M+12F/trt), and Cobb 500 (14 pens of 50M and 14 pens of 50F/trt), respectively. Litter was once used (80% chopped wheat straw and 20% peat) + new in a 50:50% blend, once used wood shavings + top dressing, fresh wood sharings, and once used wood shavings + top dressing in the respective trials. There were no coccidiosis vaccinations. Dietary coccidiostats were diclazuril (1-10d) and monensin (11-35d), none, none, and none, respectively. Diets were primarily based on wheat-corn, wheat, wheat-barley-corn, and wheat, respectively. Across 4 trials, 42-d BW averaged 2.372 kg for nCON vs 2.435 kg for Bs C-3102 treatment (+63.6 g or +2.68%; P<0.001). The average daily gain per bird was 77.0 g/d for nCON vs 79.9 g/d for Bs C-3102 treatment (+2.9 g/d or +3.77%; P<0.001). The FCR was 1.82 for nCON vs 1.77 for Bs C-3102 treatment (-0.05 or -2.75%; P=0.007). Mortality was 3.61% for nCON vs 3.43% for Bs C-3102 treatment (-0.18% actual; P=0.999). Dietary Bs C-3102 spores at 1 x 106 cfu/g feed were effective in improving 42-d broiler chicken BW and FCR performance based on results of a meta-analysis of 4 EU controlled pen trials.

Key Words:Bacillus subtilis C-3102, broiler chicken, Calsporin, direct-fed microbial, meta-analysis