Present study was conducted to evaluate the dietary supplementation of Fermented ginkgo leaf probiotics (FGLP), Fermented green tea probiotics (FGTP) and Fermented citron probiotics on growth performance, mortality, immunity, meat composition, fatty acid profile, fecal and cecal microflora concentration; and gaseous emissions in broilers. A total of three experiments were conducted, where first two experiments was general performance testing of broilers, while third one was Salmonella and E. coli challenged test in broilers. The result of the three studies was summarized as follows:
In experiment I, the aim was to evaluate the dietary supplementation of Fermented ginkgo leaf probiotics (FGLP), Fermented green tea probiotics (FGTP) and Ginkgo leaf powder (GLP) on growth performance, immunity, meat composition, fatty acid profile and cecal microflora concentration in broilers. A total of 168 day old broiler chicks were randomly allocated into seven treatments having four replications of six birds per replication in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were: 1) control (basal diet), 2) FGLP 0.2% (basal diet + 0.2% FGLP, DM basis), 3) FGLP 0.4% (basal diet + 0.4% FGLP, DM basis), 4) FGTP 0.2% (basal diet + 0.2% FGTP, DM basis), 5) FGTP 0.4% (basal diet + 0.4% FGTP, DM basis), 6) GLP 0.2% (basal diet + 0.2% GLP, DM basis) and 7) GLP 0.4% (basal diet + 0.4% GLP, DM basis). Result revealed that, weight gain in FGLP 0.4% was significantly higher during starter and overall period; while feed intake was lower in FGLP 0.2% during finisher and overall period (P>0.05); however, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower in FGLP, FGTP and GLP supplemented group compared to control during finisher and overall period (P<0.05). Crude ash content of thigh meat was significantly increased in FGLP, FGTP and GLP compared to control (P<0.05). No significant variation was observed in sum of SFA and PUFA fatty acid content of breast and thigh meat in FGLP, FGTP and GLP compared to control (P>0.05); however, cholesterol content of thigh meat was significantly lower in FGLP, FGTP and GLP supplemented groups compared to control (P<0.05). Serum IgM was higher in FGLP compared to control (P<0.05); while cecal Lactobacillus concentration was higher, and E. coli concentration was lower in FGLP and FGTP supplemented group (P<0.05). In conclusion, dietary FGLP, FGTP and FGLP supplementation significantly increased growth performance and cecal Lactobacillus concentration; whereas decreased thigh meat cholesterol content and cecal E. coli concentration. Therefore, FGLP, FGTP and FGLP could be supplemented as potential feed additives in broiler diet.
In experiment Ⅱ, the objective was to observe the dietary effect of Fermented ginkgo leaf probiotics (FGLP) and Fermented citron probiotics (FCP) on growth performance, mortality, immunity, meat characteristics and cecal microbiology in broilers. A total of 120 day old Ross 308 broiler chicks were assigned to five treatments having four replications with six birds in each in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were: 1) control (basal diet), 2) FGLP 1 = 5% FGLP (basal diet + 5% FGLP, DM basis) 3) FGLP 2 = 10% FGLP (basal diet + 10% FGLP, DM basis) 4) FCP 1 = 5% FCP (basal diet + 5% FCP, DM basis) 5) FCP 2= 10% FCP (basal diet + 10% FCP, DM basis) A significant increase in weight gain during starter period (0-21 days), finisher (22-35 days) and overall period (0-35 days); and feed intake during finisher period (22-35 days) and overall period (0-35 days) in supplementation of FGLP-2 group compared to control and other treatments groups (P<0.05). A reduced FCR was found in FCP-2 supplementation during finisher and overall period compared to control and other treatment groups (P<0.05). The calculated mortality rate was 5.56% in control and 4.5% FGLP while FCP-2 showed the zero mortality. Crude protein content was increased in FCP-1 supplemented group compared to control (P<0.05). There was found no significant differences in meat cholesterol content; however, among meat fatty acids, sum of SFA was reduced and n-6 fatty acid was increased both in FGLP and FCP supplemented group in comparison to control (P<0.05). There was no significant difference was observed in cecal microflora concentration in dietary FGLP and FCP supplementation (P>0.05); however, serum IgG was found higher in FGLP and FCP supplemented group (P<0.05). Finally, dietary FGLP and FCP supplementation significantly increased weight gain, reduced FCR, reduced mortality, increased n-6 fatty acids and decreased sum of SFA. Therefore, FGLP and FCP probiotics could be supplemented as functional feed additives in broilers diet.
In experiment Ⅲ, the aim was to evaluate the dietary Fermented ginkgo leaf probiotics (FGLP) and Fermented citron probiotics (FCP) on growth performance, immunity, internal organ weight, cecal microbiology concentration in Salmonella and E. coli challenged broilers. A total of 120 day old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned in to five dietary treatment groups having four replications with six birds in each. in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were: 1) control (basal diet); 2) FGLP 1 = 4.5% FGLP (basal diet + 4.5% FGLP, DM basis); 3) FGLP 2 = 10% FGLP (basal diet + 10% FGLP, DM basis); 4) FCP 1= 5% CP (basal diet + 5% FCP, DM basis); 5) FCP 2= 10% FCP (basal diet + 10% FCP, DM basis). On day one, each bird were orally injected 1 ml of mixed broth agar solution consisting of 5.00 × 105 Salmonella enteritidis and 7.00 × 106 E. coli bacterial load using micro pipette. At the end of the one week experimental period, growth performance, immunity, internal organ development and cecal microbiology were measured while mortality of birds was recorded daily basis. A significant increase in average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI); while reduced FCR in supplementation of FGLP and FCP supplementation compared to control (P<0.05). The lowest mortality rate was observed in FCP-1 and FCP-2 supplementation compared to control. Although, all internal organs weight were similar between control and treatment groups, an increased large intestine weight was found in dietary FGLP-2 supplementation (P<0.05). Immunoglobulin level (IgM, IgA and IgG) was elevated in the FCP supplemented group compared to control and FGLP (P<0.05). A significant increase in fecal Lactobacillus sp. concentration in FCP-2 and FGLP-2 supplementation respectively was observed (P<0.05); while reduced pH level was found in FGLP-2 and FCP-1, FCP-2 supplementation (P<0.05). Finally, dietary FGLP and FCP probiotics supplementation significantly increased ADG, ADFI and reduced FCR, decreased mortality %, increased large intestine weight and ileal Lactobacillus concentration. Therefore, FGLP and FCP could be supplemented as alternative to antibiotics in broiler diet particularly during first week.

Keywords: Fermented ginkgo leaf probiotics, Fermented green tea probiotics, Fermented citron probiotics, Challenged, Salmonella, E. coli, Growth performance, Immunity, Meat quality, Broilers