Objective: A study was conducted to evaluate effects of Megasphaera elsdenii supplementation on growth performance and characteristics of cecal digesta in broiler chickens. Materials and Method: Day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks (n = 2520) were separated into 72 pens of 35. Pens were blocked by location within the barn and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments. Treatment 1 consisted of a 0.2 mL oral gavage of M. elsdenii culture. Treatment 2 was an aerosolized mist of M. elsdenii culture, applied to the body surface at a rate of approximately 1.7 mL/bird. Cultures contained 1.97×109 CFU mL-1 of M. elsdenii. Treatment 3 served as a negative control. Feed intake and pen weight were collected at each feed change (day 16, 30 and 36). Results: At day 36, carcass data were collected from 5 birds/pen. Growth, carcass weight and mortality rate were unaffected by treatment (p>0.10). Cecal pH and volatile fatty acid concentrations were evaluated weekly. Cecal pH was lower in treated birds than control (p<0.01). Cecal contents of orally gavaged birds contained greater volatile fatty acid concentrations than control birds on day 14 (p<0.01). No differences in cecal profiles were observed across treatments after day 21 (p>0.30). Megasphaera elsdenii supplementation appeared to have the greatest effect on cecal characteristics between day 14 and 21 following administration, after which no further response is detected. Conclusion: Decreased cecal pH observed in treated birds suggests potential for use as an acidifier, a commonly incorporated antibiotic alternative in poultry production.
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