Effect of some probiotics on intestinal viscosity in rabbits

Abstract

The effects of three different probiotics (Tovocerin 1010 (spores of Bacillus toyoi), Paciflor (spores of Bacillus CIP 5832) and Yea-sacc (yeast Saccharomyces cen’isiae)) on the viscosity of small intestine and caecum content of 96 young New Zealand rabbits were studied. The experiment started at the 44th day of life (1363±107.9 g). The first half of the trial rabbits were slaughtered after 2 weeks of the trial, on the 57th day of life, and the second half after 4 weeks, on the 71st day of life. The intestinal viscosity analysis was carried out according to Bedford and Classen (1992) in the same way as in poultry. Values for viscosity were much higher in the caecum (7.07 to 7.73 mPa) than in the small intestine content (2.94 to 3.26 mPa). The addition of selected probiotics had no significant influence on viscosity in the small intestine or in the caecum content. The sex of the experimental rabbits influenced only viscosity of the small intestine content, females having higher viscosity than males (females 3.53, males 2.75 mPa, p≤0.05). The age of the experimental rabbits had no influence on intestinal viscosity.