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Abstract

The aim of the current study was to evaluate egg production, quality, and apparent retention (AR) of components in response to a multi-dose application of a single strain Bacillus subtilis (SSB; DSM29784) in a corn-soybean meal basal diet fed to hens (19 to 48 wk of age). The treatments consisted of a basal diet with either no probiotic (control, CON), 1.1E+08 (low, LSSB), 2.2E+08 (medium, MSSB) or 1.1E+09 (high, HSSB) CFU/kg of diet. A total of 336, 19-wk old Shaver White layers were used at a stocking density of 7 and 6 hens/replicate-cage in layer I (week-19 to 28) and layer II (week-29 to 48) phases, respectively. Evaluated variables included feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg production, weight, mass, and egg quality (shell thickness, shell breaking strength, albumen height (AH), and Haugh unit (HU)). Excreta was collected at the end of week-28 for AR of components and apparent metabolizable energy (AME). Supplementation of SSB increased (P = 0.008) FI during peak egg-lay (week-24) and BW increased linearly (P = 0.019) in early layer II (week-32). In layer I, LSSB compared with CON increased EM (g/egg) by 3.3% (P = 0.049). In layer II, SSB inclusion tended to improve FCR (linear, P = 0.094; g FI: g EM). Although shell breaking strength was lowest at week-20 with HSSB (4.518 vs. 4.889 kgf for HSSB vs. CON; P = 0.045), AH and HU were improved at higher dose of SSB, in both phases (P ≤ 0.005). Apparent retention of dry matter, AME, and minerals were improved (P < 0.0001) in a dose response. Hence, while the low dose of B. subtilis DSM29784 improved hen performance and maintained egg quality in both phases, a higher dose of SSB improved the interior protein quality of eggs (AH and HU).

Keywords: B. subtilis; egg quality; hens; nutrient retention; performance.

Research Insights

SupplementHealth OutcomeEffect TypeEffect Size
Bacillus subtilis HU58Improved Average Daily Feed IntakeBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis HU58Improved Egg MassBeneficial
Small
Bacillus subtilis HU58Improved Feed Conversion RatioBeneficial
Small
Bacillus subtilis HU58Improved Nutrient RetentionBeneficial
Large
Bacillus subtilis HU58Increased Body WeightBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis HU58Reduced Shell Breaking StrengthHarmful
Small
Bacillus subtilis SNZ-1972Improved Dietary Component RetentionBeneficial
Large
Bacillus subtilis SNZ-1972Improved Egg Mass During Layer I for Low DoseBeneficial
Small
Bacillus subtilis SNZ-1972Improved Feed Conversion RatioBeneficial
Small
Bacillus subtilis SNZ-1972Increased Body WeightBeneficial
Moderate
Bacillus subtilis SNZ-1972Increased Feed Intake During Peak Egg-LayingBeneficial
Moderate
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