Evaluation of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum CS fermented culture and its crude enzymes as chicken growth enhancers

Studies have shown that supplementation of important enzymes in poultry feed can improve the growth of birds. However, there were little or no available information on the utilization of such enzymes or the probiotic fermented culture in local feed production in Nigeria. Therefore, the aim of the study was focused on the evaluation of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum fermented culture and its crude enzymes as chicken growth enhancers. The organism was first screened for amylase and protease producing potential using starch agar and skim milk agar respectively. Thereafter, confirmation of the produced amylase and protease enzymes via shake-flask fermentation at 30oC for 3 days was by 3,5-dinitro salicylic acid and Folin ciocalteu reagents respectively. The produced fermented culture and its recovered crude enzymes (2 %v/v) were respectively supplemented in the locally produced chicken feed for 10weeks. The chicken fed without supplement served as control and all their growths were determined every week. The screening results revealed that L. plantarum CS produced more amylase(29 mm) than protease(19 mm) with a total enzyme yield of 22.50 U/ml and 20.92 U/ml respectively, The chicken fed with supplements containing either the enzymes or the fermented culture grew faster and significantly higher (5 kg /10 wk) than those without the supplement (3.0 kg/10 wk)at p>0.05. The growth enhanced by the fermented culture ((5 kg/10 wk) was more than that stimulated by either the amylase (3.52 kg/10 wk) or the protease (3.86 kg/10 wk), although not significant. Supplementation with protease enzyme resulted in significant robust and faster growth (3.57 kg/ 7 wk) than that with amylase enzyme (3.37 kg/7 wk). These results indicated the great potentials of both L. plantarum fermented culture and its crude enzymes especially protease as chicken growth stimulants.