Effects of olive leaf on gut microflora of broiler poultry
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abstract
In 2006 European Union bans the use of antibiotics as growth promoters (AGP) in animal feed. Due to the fact that the use of antibiotics as growth promoters has been banned intensive research has focused on the development of alternative strategies with the aim of maintenance of animal health and performance. Some studies showed that olive leaves have specific organic compounds with antimicrobial activities. The objective of the present essay is to evaluate the effects of olive leaf (OL) diet incorporation on intestinal microflora of broiler poultries.
The three experimental treatments were as follow: control treatment (0FO); 10FO (10 g/kg of olive leaf); 20FO (20 g/kg of olive leaf). The basal diet (control treatment) was a typical corn and soybean meal-based diet and was formulated according to the recommendation of NRC (1994). One hundred and forty-seven day old male feather sexed broiler chicks (Ross 350) were allocated randomly in 21 pens (7 birds/pen). The chicks were given feed and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period (0 to 21 days of age). At 21 days of age, 2 birds of each pen randomly selected were removed and a total of 60 birds were slaughtered to collect the ileal and caecal contents counting of microbial population (total coliforms and Escherichia coli).
The results showed a lower total coliforms and E. coli counts in ileum contents than in cecal contents. The addition of olive leaf in basal diet did not affect the population of coliforms and E. coli in ileum and cecal contents.
