Effect of Prebiotics and Probiotics as natural growth promoters in broiler chicks

Abstract

Sixty day-old broiler chicks (Ross breed) were treated with or without prebiotics and probiotics (Natural growth promoters) containing immune extracts at the starter (1-5wks) and finisher (6-10wks) phases. The birds were allocated to no diets (one test and one control) in a contpletely randomized design. Each treatment had three replicates of ten birds per replicate. Energy and protein levels of the diets were 3000 Kcal ME/kg and crude protein (CP) of 20% and 3000 Kcal ME/kg and 17% CP at starter and finisher phases, respectively. The experiment lasted ten weeks. The daily metabolizable energy intake for body maintenance, 146.97 cal./ day for birds on the tesi diet was significantly (P<0.05) higher than those birds on the control diet, 113.04 cal./day at the starter phase. At the finisher phase, efficiency of feed utilization (0.38 as against 0.19), mean weights of live (1920g as against /570g) and plucked (1740 as against 1380g) parts of the treated birds were significantly (P<0.05) betier than the untreated birds. Other parameters measured increased more for the treated birds but were not significant (P>0.05). The immune status conferred on the birds ensured adequate protection from death for the treated birds. The untreated birds suffered 67% more mortality than the treated birds. Though mortality rate was within the acceptable limits for both treated and untreated birds. The results of the experiment showed that Enterococcus faesium, inulin together with cell-wall fragments and immune stimulant extracts as probiotics and prebiotics enhanced growth performance of broiler chicks. The trial was successful.