*3.5. Intestinal Microbiota*

The effect of HS on the intestinal microbiota was evaluated on the basis of the presence of lactic acid bacteria and enterobacteria in the contents of the small intestine and the cecum. The results showed that the application of HS did not affect the numbers of LAB in any of the monitored sections of the intestine (Figure 4a) but did significantly increase the numbers of enterobacteria, both in the small intestine and in the cecum (Figure 4b).

**Figure 4.** The influence of 0.5% HS on the counts of (**a**) lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and (**b**) enterobacteria (ENT) in the contents of the small intestine and the caecum. C: control group; H: layers fed a diet enriched with supplementation of 0.5% HS. Columns marked with stars are significantly different from control: \*\* *p* < 0.01; \*\*\* *p* < 0.001.
