C.M.  Yang, G.T.  Cao, Y.P.  Xiao, A.G.  Chen, T.T.  Liu, L.  Zhou, L.  Zhang, P.R.  Ferket, 
    Effects of <I>Clostridium butyricum </I>on Growth Performance, Nitrogen 
  Metabolism, Intestinal Morphology and Cecal Microflora in Broiler Chickens,
    Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances,
    Volume 11,Issue 15,
    2012,
    Pages 2665-2671,
    ISSN 1680-5593,
    javaa.2012.2665.2671,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2012.2665.2671)
    Abstract: A total of 600, 1 day old male Lingnan Yellow broiler chickens 
  were used to investigate the effects of <I>Clostridium butyricum</I> (<I>C. 
  butyricum</I>) on growth performance, nitrogen metabolism, intestinal morphology 
  and cecal microflora in broiler chickens. The birds were randomly assigned into 
  5 treatments (6 replicate pens per treatment with 20 birds per pen) and fed 
  the same antibiotic-free basal diets during a 42 days feeding experiment. The 
  treatments were as follows: no addition (Control), 2.5x10<SUP>7 </SUP>cfu <I>C. 
  butyricum</I> kg<SUP>-1</SUP> of diet (CB1), 5x10<SUP>7</SUP> cfu<I> C. butyricum</I> 
  kg<SUP>-1</SUP> of diet (CB2), 1x10<SUP>8</SUP> cfu<I> C. butyricum</I> kg<SUP>-1</SUP> 
  of diet (CB3) and 10 mg colistine sulfate kg<SUP>-1</SUP> of diet (Antibiotic). 
  Compared with the control birds, birds fed either CB1 or CB2 or antibiotic diet 
  had greater (p&lt;0.05) Body Weight (BW) on day 21 and 42 and higher (p&lt;0.05) 
  Average Daily Gain (ADG) from day 1-42. Birds fed<I> C. butyricum </I>or antibiotic 
  diet had lower (p&lt;0.05) Feed-to-Gain ratio (F:G) than the control birds from 
  day 1-42. Dietary <I>C. butyricum</I> decreased (p&lt;0.05) the concentration 
  of serum Uric Acid (UA) compared with the control diet on day 21. Supplementation 
  with CB2 or CB3 decreased (p&lt;0.05) serum ammonia concentration compared with 
  the control diet on day 21 and 42. Birds fed <I>C. butyricum</I> diet had higher 
  (p&lt;0.05) ileal villus height than the control birds on day 21 and 42. Birds 
  fed CB2 or CB3 diet had lower (p&lt;0.05) ileal crypt depth than the control 
  birds on day 21 and 42. Supplementation with CB1 or CB3 decreased (p&lt;0.05) 
  the population of cecal <I>Escherichia coli </I>(<I>E. coli</I>) compared with 
  the control on day 21. Birds fed <I>C. butyricum</I> diet had higher (p&lt;0.05) 
  population of cecal Bifidobacterium on day 21 and birds fed CB2 diet had higher 
  (p&lt;0.05) cecal Bifidobacterium on day 42 compared with the control birds. 
  Supplementation with CB1 or CB2 increased (p&lt;0.05) the number of cecal Lactobacillus 
  on day 21 and supplementation with CB2 increased (p&lt;0.05) Lactobacillus on 
  day 42 compared with the control or antibiotic groups. The results indicate 
  that supplementation with <I>C. butyricum </I>promotes growth performance, modulates 
  nitrogen metabolism improves intestinal morphology and balances cecal microflora 
  in broiler chickens.
    Keywords: Clostridium butyricum;growth performance;nitrogen metabolism;intestinal morphology;cecal microflora;broiler chickens