Effect of Probiotic and Acidifier Combination as an Alternative to Antibiotic Growth Promoters on Digesta pH and Intestinal Microflora of Laying Hen

The research was conducted to determine the effect of using a mixture of probiotic (Lactobacillus sp. and Bacillus sp.) and acidifier (bilimbi powder) as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter (bacitracin) on digesta acidity (pH) and intestinal microflora of laying hen. The research material used were 240 laying hens (Lohmann brown), which raised until 22 wks, designed by 4 treatments and 6 replications. The treatments applied on feed, which were consisted of T0: 0%, T1: 0.8% probiotic + 0.25% bilimbi powder, T2: 0.8% probiotic + 0.50% bilimbi powder, T3: 0.8% probiotic + 0.75% bilimbi powder. The observed variables were the pH of digesta (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and the population of intestinal microflora on ileum. Data were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using Completely Randomized Design (CRD), then tested by Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) if had a different effect. The results indicate that the treatments gave highly significant effect (T<0.01) on pH (duodenum, jejunum and ileum), the population of Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli then gave significant effect (T<0.05) on the population of Lactic Acid Bacteria. In conclusion, a combination of probiotic and acidifier can improve the stability of intestinal microflora population efficientl