Abstract
Probiotics are safe, inexpensive, and effective feed additives, and Clostridium butyricum (CB) has been reported to regulate bone health in addition to having conventional probiotic effects. The bone health of laying hens is closely related to their production performance. Here, we investigated the effects of CB supplementation on the bone health and performance of laying hens. We added CB to the feed of green-shell laying hens, Luhua laying hens, and Hy-line Brown laying hens and examined changes in body weight, feed intake, egg production performance, and egg quality to determine the impact of CB on production performance. The impact of CB on the bones of laying hens was determined by analyzing the bone index, bone bending strength, bone calcium and phosphorus content, and bone mineral density. The study found that CB had little effect on the body weight and feed intake of laying hens. Feed additions of 10(8) and 10(9) CFU/kg CB can significantly increase the tibia index and bone mineral density of four-week-old green-shell laying hens. Feed additions of 10(7) and 10(8) CFU/kg CB can significantly increase the average egg weight, eggshell weight, and tibia index of 26-week-old Luhua laying hens, but 10(7) CFU/kg CB will reduce the egg production rate. Adding 10(8) CFU/kg CB to feed can significantly increase the average egg weight, eggshell weight, and tibia bending strength of 40-week-old Hy-line Brown laying hens. In summary, adding 10(8) CFU/kg CB is beneficial to the bone and production health of laying hens.