Effect of graded levels of probiotic feed supplementation on the performance in commercial broiler chicken

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the probiotic supplementation, fed to a total of 240 day old commercial broiler chicks from day 1 to 42 days of age and to evaluate the body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio. The trial results revealed that, the overall gain at 42 days with dietary supplementation of probiotic and antibiotic (300+100g/ton) yielded significantly (P<0.05) highest body weight gain (1700g) followed by commercial probiotic (200g/ton) (1691g) and probiotic (1685g) compared to control (1514g) during the overall period. The feed consumption during the period is significantly (P<0.05) higher with supplementation of probiotics or a combination of probiotic and antibiotic compared to control. The differences in the feed efficiency (kg of feed/kg gain) were significant among the probiotic (1.856) probiotic and antibiotic (1.694), commercial probiotic (1.715) and control (1.803) during over all experimental period. All dietary supplements did not have significant (P>0.05) effect on various carcasses parameters, except breast yield. The breast yield was significantly (P<0.05) lower in probiotic, at 42 days, while the rest of the treatment groups did not differ from control. Mortality was more in commercial probiotic added group. However, the mortality rate was within the limits and no specific disease was recorded. It can be concluded that, supplementation of probiotics as alternative to antibiotic can be used for improving performance of broiler chicken.