Abstract

RESPONSE OF BROILER CHICKS TO COMMERCIAL DIETARY MICROBIAL PROBIOTIC (DEXFLOR-PR) AS NATURAL GROWTH PROMOTER ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTICS

Igbal Eltayeb Musaad, Kamal A. M. and Mukhtar Ahmed Mukhtar*

ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of broiler chicks to dies containing various levels of dietary bacterial probiotic (BP) as natural growth promoter alternative to antibiotics. Experiment parameters covered growth performance and carcass traits. The experimental design used was complete randomize design (CRD). Total of 200, five days old 125 gm initial weight, un sexed Arbor Acres strain broiler chicks were used in this experiment. The chicks were divided into five experimental groups with five replicates, each of eight chicks. The first group (A) fed on basal diet without feed additives as negative control diet (NC), the second group (B), fed on basal diet with antibiotic (Neomycin 20 mg /kg) as positive control (PC), the other groups C, D and E were fed on basal diet supplemented with bacterial probiotic (BP) at levels 1, 2 and 3 gm/kg respectively. The results showed that, the addition of dietary (BP) at all inclusion levels improved significantly the value of body weight gain (BWG) and FCR compared to (NC) without any effect on feed intake of broiler chicks. No mortalities were recorded throughout the experimental period. The carcass dressing percentage were increased significantly in birds fed on dietary (BP) compared to those fed on (NC) diet. The results showed that, all levels of (BP) were significantly improved commercial cuts (breast, thigh and drumstick) and their percentages of separable tissue compared to (NC). No significant differences were observed among all treatment groups in the percent of giblets (gizzard, liver and heart) and the subjective meat quality values (color, juiciness, tenderness and flavor) of broiler chicks. The results of economical evaluation of experimental diets, showed that the addition of (BP) at various levels to the broiler diets caused more net profit compared to (NC), but the value of profitability ratio (1.23) of group E (3 gm/kg dietary BP) was the highest of the tested groups. According to the results of this study, dietary (BP) appeared to be superior compared to antibiotic. It thus shows that dietary (BP) can be used as replacement for antibiotics.

Keywords: Bacterial probiotic, performance and carcass traits, natural feed additive.