Lactobacilli-Based Pro and Postbiotic Efficacy Are Also Influenced by Other Factors Than Dietary Challenging Conditions

The present study aimed to confirm the previously reported ‘recovery’ effect to a challenging diet (CD) of a Lactobacilli-based probiotic (Pro) and its derived postbiotic (Post) in broilers. Identical diet compositions were used, and observations were extended to a second CD diet. A completely randomised block design of 2 × 3 treatment groups with two CDs and three additive conditions (Control, Pro, Post) was used. One additional group received a standard diet (SD). The study involved 1600 one-day-old Ross 308 male broilers. All diets, fed from d1 to 35, were formulated to contain identical nutrients levels, with CDs formulated to be greater than SD in nonstarch polysaccharides using rye and barley (Rye CD) or dry distiller grains with soluble, sunflower and rapeseed meal (DDGS CD). Growth performance parameters, footpad lesions (FPL) score and plasma Ca, P and uric acid concentrations were measured. Compared to SD, birds fed Rye CD and DDGS CD had a higher 1–35 days feed conversion ratio (+3.4 and +4.1%, respectively), due to a higher feed intake for Rye CD (+2.9%) and a lower body weight for DDGS CD (−4.1%). An effect of additive was restricted to Rye CD where Post depressed BW at d28 and d35 (−3.7 and −2.4%, respectively). Compared to Rye CD, DDGS CD lowered plasma Ca/P at d21 (−9.0%) and d35 (−8.1%) and uric acid at d21 (−26%). Pro increased plasma Ca in Rye CD at d21 (+12%) and Post decreased plasma uric acid in DDGS CD at d35 (−25%). All other plasma parameters were not affected. The previously observed recovery effect of a commercial probiotic and postbiotic were not reproducible under highly similar growth conditions, which suggests that both may have specific physiological effects which are only expressed under specific circumstances.