Effect of Multi-Strain Probiotic Feed Supplement on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Commercial Broiler Chickens

Probiotics are the best feed additives used in poultry to establish beneficial gut microflora by maintaining normal intestinal microflora by competitive exclusion antagonism. Three hundred and fifty day old commercial broiler chicks randomly allotted to 7 treatments with 10 replicates containing 5 chicks in each replicate and reared for 42 days. The treatments consist of corn-soya and fish meal-based control diet, control diet supplemented with antibiotic (Bacitracin methylene disalicylate, @500 g/ ton) and probiotic at 100, 200, 400, 600 & 800 g/ ton diet. Fish meal (4%) was included in the diets as microbial challenge so as to assess the efficacy of the probiotic supplement. The body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P<0.05) improved in birds fed on diets supplemented with probiotic at 200 g/ton and higher levels compared with the control. The overall feed consumption was significantly (P<0.05) lower in birds fed on control diet when compared to other treatment groups except the diets supplemented with probiotic 100 g/ton. There were no effects on carcass traits but the percent breast yield (%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds fed diets with probiotics at 400, 600 and 800 g/ton. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in dry matter (DM) and protein retention between the treatments. Hence, it can be concluded that probiotic at 400 g/ ton may be supplemented as an alternative to antibiotic for improving performance of broiler chicken.

• In order to establish a beneficial gut microflora, one of the best feed additives that can be used is probiotics.

• The mode of action of probiotics in poultry includes maintaining normal intestinal microflora by competitive exclusion antagonism.