Effect of combined supplementation of probiotic and yeast on growth, carcass characteristics and economics of production in broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of combined supplementation of probiotic and yeast on growth, carcass traits, organ weights and economics of production in commercial broiler chickens from 0 to 6 weeks of age. Basal diets were formulated containing maize, soybean meal and rice polish with 22.8% CP and 2900 kcal ME/kg at starter phase (0–3 weeks) and 19.9% CP and 3000 kcal ME/kg at finisher phase (4–6 weeks). The broiler chicks were fed basal diet supplemented with Improval (mixture of probiotic and yeast) @ 0 (T₀), 0.5 (T_0.5), 1.0 (T_1.0) and 1.5 (T_1.5) g/kg diet. Growth and feed efficiency of broilers fed T_1.0 diet were better (P<0.05) than those recorded on control diet. Higher (P<0.05) dressing percent and breast yield were observed in chicks fed T_1.0 diet supplemented with 1.0 g/kg supplement. The abdominal fat content was reduced (P<0.05) in the supplementated groups compared to control. The relative weights of liver, heart, spleen and bursa were higher in all the supplemented groups while that of the ceaca was reduced (P<0.05) in the birds fed T_1.0 diet. Findings of the present study suggested that supplementation of probiotic and yeast mixture @ 1.0 g/kg diet was effective in improving performance and economics in broiler chickens.