Impact of galactose, lactose, and Grobiotic-B70 on growth performance and energy utilization when fed to broiler chicks

Three chick assays were conducted to determine the effect of increasing dietary galactose (GAL), lactose (LAC), and Grobiotic-B70, a LAC fermentation product, on growth performance, toxicity, and energy utilization when fed to commercial broiler chicks. One-day-old male commercial broiler chicks were randomly assigned to treatments in each assay. In all assays, a 22% CP corn-soybean meal-dextrose basal diet containing a growth-promoting antibiotic (Bacitracin methylene disalicylate) was fed. In assay 1, GAL was added at 2, 4, 6, 10, or 15%. In assay 2, Grobiotic-B70 was added at 5%. In assay 3, GAL, LAC, and Grobiotic-B70 were each added at 2, 4, and 6%. All additions were made in place of dextrose, and diets were fed from 0 to 20 or 21 d of age. In assay 1, the 15% GAL treatment resulted in high mortality (27%) by d 3 and was terminated. The 10% GAL treatment also resulted in increased mortality, most of which occurred during the 7-to-14-d period. Inclusion of 2 and 4% GAL resulted in an improvement (P < 0.05) in growth compared to the basal diet. Inclusion of 2, 4, 6, and 10% GAL resulted in a significant linear decrease in MEn (r2 = 0.85). In chick assay 2, 5% Grobiotic-B70 increased growth during the first 2 wk. In chick assay 3, 6% Grobiotic increased weight gain (P < 0.05) from 0 to 14 d, and addition of 2 or 4% GAL, 2 or 4% LAC, and 4 or 6% Grobiotic-B70 increased weight gain (P < 0.08) from 0 to 21 d. Our results indicate that levels of 10 to 15% GAL are toxic. In contrast, low levels of GAL and Grobiotic-B70, and possibly LAC, may increase growth of commercial broiler chicks.