Effect of diet supplementation with Enterococcus durans ED26E/7 and its durancin EntED26e/7 on growth performance, caecal enzymatic activity, jejunal morphology and meat properties of broiler rabbits

The present study investigates the effects of Enterococcus durans ED26E/7 beneficial strain and its enterocin - durancin EntED26E/7 on selected parameters in rabbits: growth performance, caecal enzymatic activity, jejunal morphometry and meat physico-chemical characteristics. Seventy-two rabbits (aged five weeks, M91 meatline, both sexes) were divided into experimental groups E1 (E. durans ED26E/7 strain; dose 500 mu L/animal/day, concentration 10(9) CFU/mL) and E2 (durancin EntED26E/7; dose 50 mu L/animal/day, with activity 12 800 AU/mL) and control group (C). The additives were administered in drinking water for a period of 21 days. All animals remained in good health during the experiment. The highest body weight gain (increase by 1.5% compared to C) was noted in E1 group during ED26E/7 strain application (P<0.001). Both bioactive compounds positively influenced (reduced) the feed conversion ratio (P<0.001). The ED26E/7 strain and its durancin EntED26E/7 application stimulated the activity of most enzymes tested in the caecum; only the amylolytic and inulolytic activity in E2 group decreased during durancin EntED26E/7 addition. Both additives, but mainl the ED26E/7 strain, showed a tendency to improve the jejunal morhological parameters till the end of the experiment (day 42). The meat physico-chemical parameters were no negatively influenced by the application of E. durans ED26E/7 strain and its durancin EntED26E/7. The diet supplementation with bacteriocinogenic and probiotic E. durans ED26E/7 strain and its durancin EntED26E/7 may improve the growth performance, caecal enzymatic activity and jejunal morphometry of rabbits, without any negative effect on rabbit meat quality.

Automated summary

The study showed that the beneficial strain Enterococcus durans ED26E/7 and its enterocin - durancin EntED26E/7 have a positive impact on the growth performance, caecal enzymatic activity, jejunal morphometry, and meat physico-chemical characteristics of rabbits. The application of these bioactive compounds can improve growth performance, caecal enzymatic activity, and jejunal morphometry in rabbits without negatively affecting meat quality.