Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Production of Germ-Free Fast-Growing Broilers from a Commercial Line for Microbiota Studies
Published on: June 18, 2020
Beneficial effects of Lactobacillus plantarum on growth performance, immune status, antioxidant function and
Xiao Xiao1, Tiantian Cui2, Songke Qin2
1Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, 311300, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health and Internet Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, 311300, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Veterinary Medicine and Health Management, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, 311300, Hangzhou, China; China-Australia Joint Laboratory for Animal Health Big Data Analytics, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, 311300, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Vegamax Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Anji, 313300, Huzhou, China.
Abstract:
Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) has been globally regarded as antibiotic alternative in animal farming in the past few years. However, the potential function of L. plantarum in broilers has not been systemically explored. In this study, a total of 560 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly divided into 3 groups, fed with basal diet and drank with L. plantarum HJZW08 (LP) at the concentration of 0 (CON), 1000 × 10^5 (LP1000), and 2000 × 10^5 CFU/L (LP2000) for 70 d. Results showed that the body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgY, and anti-inflammatory interleukin 10 (IL-10) were markedly improved (P < 0.05), while the levels of pro-inflammatory IL-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum were decreased (P < 0.05) in the LP2000 group comparing with the CON group. Besides, LP treatment groups prominently increased the levels and activities of antioxidant enzymes and decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). Additionally, the levels of isobutyric acid in the LP1000 and LP2000 groups and isovaleric acid in the LP2000 group were significantly improved. More importantly, the α-diversity and microbial structure of intestinal microbiota were pronounced altered by LP supplementation. The results showed that only the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota was significantly increased in the LP2000 group, while 6 kinds of bacteria on genus level were significantly changed. For further validation, linear discriminant analysis with effect size (LEfSe) plots revealed that 8 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were predominant in the CON group, while Bacteroides and other beneficial species such as Lactimicrobium massiliense (ASV4 and ASV36), Intestinimonas butyriciproducens (ASV71), and Barnesiella viscericola (ASV152 and ASV571) were enriched in the LP groups. Taken together, dietary supplementation with LP obviously enhanced the immune status, antioxidant capacity, and stabilized the cecal microbiota and SCFAs, contributing to the improvement of growth performance of broilers. Our study laid good foundation for the application of probiotic Lactobacillus in animal industry in the future.
Related Concept Videos
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
Microbes in the Production of Fermented Foods
Probiotics
Development of Human Microbiota
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

