Efficacy of Lysozyme as an Alternative to Antibiotics for Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Antibiotics have been included in poultry feeds to improve growth performance. However, it is a concern that pathogens have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Lysozyme is a potential replacement for antibiotics. A trial with or without heat stress was conducted to investigate different inclusion levels (0, 50, 100 and 200ppm) of lysozyme on broiler chickens. Another two trials were conducted using clean or used litter to determine the effect of 100 ppm lysozyme on broiler chickens in each period of the growth cycle. Birds fed the 50 ppm treatment had heavier weight than birds fed the 200 ppm treatment on day 35 (P<0.05). When used litter was provided, feeding lysozyme to birds from days 5-14 and throughout the trial reduced the number of E. coli in the ileum compared with feeding antibiotic to birds (P<0.05). Dietary lysozyme positively influences bacterial numbers in the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens.