Synergistic Effects of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae and Inulin on Growth Performance of Broilers

Özet

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been proven to enhance broiler performance by improving nutrient utilization, modulating gut microbiota composition and strengthening immune response. Inulin, a natural fiber derived from plants, has also been shown to promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, leading to improved gut health and overall performance in broilers. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and inulin on the growth performance of broilers, to identify an effective supplementation strategy for broiler production. One hundred and twenty-eight Cobb-500 broilers were randomly distributed to four treatments (control (T0) - basal diet; T1 - 0.5% Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast); T2 - 0.5% inulin; and T3 - 0.5% Saccharomyces cerevisiae + 0.5% inulin. Treatments were replicated four times and arranged in two blocks with house side as the blocking factor. Data on feed intake, water intake and live body weight were collected and analyzed in SAS ver. 9.4. Broilers fed combined inulin and yeast had higher (p < 0.05) live body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion efficiency. Broilers fed yeast-only and those fed a basal diet had the lowest (p < 0.05) live body weight, weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. These findings highlight the potential benefits of synbiotic supplementation in broiler diets to improve feed efficiency, gut microbiota balance, and growth performance, suggesting strong potential as sustainable alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler production. The inulin used in this study was extracted from Jerusalem artichoke and the one extracted from chicory roots may provide better results.