[Study the effects of different levels of hull-less barley on caecal micro flora of broiler chicks]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of diets containing different levels of hull-less barley on caecal microflora of broiler chicks. Two hundred and forty one-day old male broiler chicks [Arbor Acres strain] were used in a completely randomized design with 4 tratments, and 3 replicates were allocated to each treatment. Different levels of hull-less barley in diets had not significant effects on total bacterial count, E.coli, Clostridia and Lactobacillus population in caeca at starter period [21 days old], but at 49 days of age, caecal Lactobacilus population increased significantly by increasing the levels of hull-less barley in diets[p<0.05]. Based on the results of the present study, it can be stated that inclusion of hull-less barley in diets, changes the caecal microflora of broiler chicks. These components reduced pathogenic bacteria [Clostridia] and increased the usefull bacteria [Lactobacillus]