Effect of probiotics supplementation on the performance of broilers

The present study was conducted with the objective to compare the growth characteristics of broiler chicken and the intestinal bacterial profiles (E.coli and Lactobacillus) on supplementation no frobiotic formulation in drinking water. Broiler chicks (500) were supplemented with calculated amount of probiotics (0g (C), 1g (P₁), 4g(P₂) and 8g (P₃) in pre-weighed quantities of water from 1–14 day and again from 21–35 day. In the group P₄, the probiodcs were given throughout upto day 35 at the rate of 0.25 g/litre from 1–21 days and 1g/litre from 22–35 days. Of the three doses used, the higher rate of 8g/litre (P₃) of water was sound to be unsuitable for recommendation as the birds tended to have poor feed conversion efficiency and the pathogenic E.coli counts were more by 35 days of age. The overall increment in body weights was 66 g, 80 g and 89 g in P₁, P₂ and P₄ respectively, while it was 20 grams in P₃. The best FCR was recorded in P₄ (1.83) followed by P₂ (1.86), P₁ (1.87), C(1.89) and P₃ (1.92). Probiotic supplementation increased the intestinal length and weight. With respect to bacterial counts, the ratio of Lactobacillus: E.coli was better in probiotic supplemented groups, especially P₄, than control. It was also evident that as the dose of probiotic supplementation increased, not only was there an increase in beneficial bacteria, but also the E.coli bacteria too.