摘要：Objective: A trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of age at administration of Lactococcus plantarum isolates from virgin coconut oil processing waste on the number of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) in the intestine and the growth performance of broilers. Methodology: The research used 160 day old cobb broilers divided into 4 treatment groups: T0 (without LP), T1 ( Lactococcus plantarum administered at 1 week of age), T2 (2 weeks of age) and T3 (3 weeks of age). The basal diet consisted of corn, rice brain, fish meal, soy bean meal, bone meal, vegetable fat and premix (21.1% crude protein and 3038 kcal kg1 energy metabolism). Chickens were given Lactococcus plantarum only one time and were slaughtered every week until 5 weeks old. Variables included the number of LAB, E. coli and Salmonella in the intestine, thickness and length of the intestine, carcass weight, fat and cholesterol content of carcass, body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency. The data were evaluated using a one-way ANOVA. Results: The results showed that Lactococcus plantarum administration affected the balance of microflora in the gut and the length of the intestine. Lactococcus plantarum treatment significantly increased the number of LAB in the intestine (p<0.01) up to 2 weeks after administration, conversely, the number of E. coli and Salmonella decreased. When given at 2 and 3 weeks, the effect of Lactococcus plantarum increased intestinal length and broiler growth performance was highly significant (p<0.01). Probiotic treatment did not affect carcass percentage but affected both the abdominal fat and cholesterol of broiler meat. Conclusion: Optimal body weight, feed conversion ratio (1.78) and cholesterol content were observed when Lactococcus plantarum was given at 2 weeks of age.
