Supplementation of Bacillus subtilis GM5 enhances broiler body weight gain and modulates cecal microbiota

Abstract

We investigated the effect of the strain Bacillus subtilis GM5 on growth, feed conversion, and the composition of cecum microbiota in broiler chickens. Half of which received a control diet, while the other half was fed a diet supplemented with GM5 spores. Cecal contents on days 1, 10, and 42 were subjected to metataxonomic analysis. Principal Component Analysis showed that the control and probiotic groups formed three separate clusters, indicating changes, which occurred gradually in microbial communities. On day 1, Firmicutes (53.87–57.61%) and Proteobacteria (43.77–38.93%) were prevalent in both groups, whereas samples of days 10 and 42 were predominantly occupied by Firmicutes (54.55–81.79%) and Bacteroidetes (26.94–30.45%). In the group of chickens treated with probiotic, the average daily gain in body weight was higher, while feed conversion decreased by 1.44%. A surge in the presence of beneficial bacteria of the Ruminococcaceae family was observed. The introduction of the probiotic led to an elevated Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, which positively correlated with chickens’ bodyweight (Spearman ρ = 1.0, P < 0.05). Supplementing broiler feed with B. subtilis GM5 spores leads to improved feed intake and digestibility, which is paramount in reducing the cost of the final product. Thus, the probiotic strain GM5 modulates the cecal microbiota of broiler chickens and increases microbial diversity, which is well exhibited on the 42nd day.