Abstract
The effect of feeding probiotic (Bio-Top; Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis), acidifier (Sal-Stop), antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) or probiotic plus acidifier was investigated in commercial broiler. A total of four hundred Cobb 500 day-old straight run chicks were randomly distributed to 5 different dietary groups having 4 replications each. The number of birds in each replication was 20. The five dietary groups were as control (basal diet; BD), BD containing AGP at a level of 20g/100kg, BD containing probiotic at a level of 200g/100kg, BD containing acidifier at a level of 200g/100kg; and BD containing an equal amount of probiotic plus acidifier (200g/100kg). Broilers that received either probiotic, acidifier or a mixture of probiotic and acidifier (1:1) exhibited higher body weight gain, lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) and higher costeffectiveness compared with the broilers fed on control diet (P<0.05). However, feeding of diet containing both probiotic and acidifier resulted in the highest growth rate and net profit in all dietary regimens. Broilers fed on probiotic and acidifier in a mixture had FCR similar to other treatment groups. This study indicated that the diet containing probiotic-acidifier mixture seems to be more cost-effective in promoting growth performance of broilers, as an alternative to the AGP, as compared to the use of probiotic or acidifier alone in the dietRes. Agric., Livest. Fish.3(1): 127-137, April 2016
Highlights
IntroductionAntibiotics that are used as antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) in broiler feed have been shown to increase meat yield and improve feed efficiency with substantial reduction in pathogenic bacteria in the host gut (Gaskins et al, 2002)
Broiler production is one of the most important and promising sector in poultry industry in terms of advantage of quick return that plays a vital role in the economic growth of Bangladesh
In order to cope with the challanges of growth-inhibiting microorganisms, some antibiotics like bacitracin, virginiamycin, flavomycin, avilamycin, tiamulin, colistin sulphate, oxytetracycline, aureomycin, chlortetracycline, neomycin sulphate, erythromycin and enrofloxacin have been used for several decades in broiler feed at a sub-therapeutic level
Summary
Antibiotics that are used as AGP in broiler feed have been shown to increase meat yield and improve feed efficiency with substantial reduction in pathogenic bacteria in the host gut (Gaskins et al, 2002). They are widely used in veterinary field for reducing the incidence of diseases. The European Union has reported that about 25,000 patients died each year from infections caused by drugresistant bacteria, which is equivalent to €1.5 billion of medical healthcare costs (Ziggers, 2011) For this reason, most of the poultry meat consumer groups are avoiding meat from birds fed on diets containing antibiotics. Many feed additives referred to as natural growth promoters or non-antibiotic growth promoters have been evaluated which include probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, acidifiers, phytobiotics, etc. (Ricke, 2003; Hruby and Cowieson, 2006; Kocher, 2006; Alavi et al, 2012)
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