Effect of supplementation of probiotic, prebiotics and synbiotics on the performance of broilers

An experiment was conducted to study the performance of broilers (n=270) with six dietary treatments comprising of control diet (T1), supplementation of commercially available prebiotic-I i.e FOS (Fructo-oligosaccharide-T₂);prebiotic-II i.e Inulin (T₃); a probiotic (T₄); synbiotic-I containing probiotic and FOS (T₅); synbiotic-II containing probiotic and Inulin (T₆₎ for a period of six weeks. The birds fed with synbiotic-II diet had significantly (P<0.01) lower feed intake, better body weight gain, best (P<0.001) feed efficiency compared to control birds. Supplementation of probiotic and synbiotics in the diet significantly (P<0.01) decreased the feed cost/kg live weight gain compared to the control diet. The serum cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-C levels of the birds fed with symbiotic-II diet were reduced significantly (P<0.01) compared to control birds. Further, the thigh muscle cholesterol showed significant (P<0.05) differences; whereas the breast muscle cholesterol showed non-significant differences among different treatments. The total caecal microbial load was significantly (P<0.01) reduced in broilers fed with different prebiotics and synbiotics in diets compared to control. However, the different types of prebiotics and probiotic either alone or in combinations (synbiotics) did not influence the carcass traits, HI titre to ND vaccination and mortality. It is inferred that prebiotics and probiotics either alone or in combination at recommended level in broiler diets can be supplemented safely without affecting the performance of broilers.