Comparison the effect of probiotic with antibiotic on performance, intestinal microbiology and morphology of villi and blood parameters of Japanese quail

Indiscriminate use of antibiotics promotes the development of antibiotic resistance and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes from animal to human microbes, Therefore, alternatives should be introduced. This experiment was conducted to this purpose. The 420 one-day-old Japanese quail randomly were allocated in seven experimental treatments, 3 replicate and 20 quail per replicate. The experimental treatments were control diet, and three level from the protexin and virginiamycin (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75%). Compared with control feed intake was reduced by fed treatments containing protexin and virginiamycin in whole period of experiment (P<0.05). The effect of protexin on live and carcass weight and average daily gain was significant; as live body and carcass weight in protexin group was more than control (P<0.05). The diet containing 0.25% protexin had the highest live and carcass weight. The concentration of all measured blood parameters, excepted for IgA and IgG, affected by protexin and virginiamycin in the diet (P<0.05).  The whole colonies of microorganisms, in diet contained 75% protexin or 5% virginiamycin were higher than the control (P>0.05). The Supplemental protexin and virginiamycin resulted to increased the colonies of beneficial bacteria, reduced the population of Escherichia coli, removing of salmonella and increased of the height, width and crypt depth of ileum and jejunum villi in compared to the control. Therefore, the effects of probiotics were matched not only with the effects of antibiotics, but in some cases also had advantages. Therefore, the use of probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics may be recommendable in the diet of birds.