Utilization of Probiotics as Water Supplement of Broilers Fed with Commercial Rations

Abstract

Adverse effect of antibiotic feeding had encouraged a shift in favor of using probiotic in broiler production. This study determined the production performance, meat quality, profitability and the in vivodigestibility of nutrients in the rations fed to broilers supplemented with varying levels of probiotics via drinking water It was laid out following a Completely Randomized Design with four treatments replicated four times. The treatments were: Treatment 1 with 1tsp antibiotic per liter of water, T2 with 1 tsp probiotics per liter of water , T3 with 1.5 tsp probiotics per liter of water, T4 with 2 tsp per liter of water. No significant differences were observed among broilers fed rations supplemented with varying levels of probiotics in drinking water in almost all parameters such as average final weight, total weight gain, average feed consumption, average daily gain except feed conversion efficiency. Supplementation of probiotics did not affect the meat quality of broilers. The color, odor/aroma, taste/flavor, tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability of the oven-cooked broiler meat showed similar meat quality. Highest average return above feed, chick and supplement cost was obtained by broilers with 0.1% probiotics. In vivodigestibility of nutrients such as dry matter, crude protein,calcium and phosphorus utilized by broilers fed ration supplemented with 0.1% (Treatment 2), 0.15% (Treatment 3) and 0.2% (Treatment 4) of probiotics was significantly higher than those fed ration supplemented with 0.1 %antibiotic (Treatment 1) via drinking water. However, no significant difference was obtainedon the digestibility of dry matter, crude fiber, crude fiber, crude fat and ash. Probiotics can be used as an alternative supplement to broilers instead of antibiotics. It is recommended that probiotics can be supplemented in drinking water of broilers at0.1% or 1 gram per liter of water for better growth performance, meat quality, digestibility of nutrients and higher returns. Further study on the effect of supplementing different probiotics available commercially in different strains of broilers and on the growth and laying performance of egg-type layers supplemented in their drinking water.