Effect of a dietary supplementation combining a probiotic and a natural anticoccidial in broiler chickens

Abstract

In order to improve the growth performance of broilers and prevent coccidiosis in our farms, two groups of broiler chicks (Hubbard F15) were bred under the same conditions for a period of 52 days. Experimental group received an aliment added with a natural anticoccidial based on herbal extracts and a probiotic but water free of antibiotics while Control group received the same food without probiotic and natural anticoccidial, but added with a chemical anti-coccidial and a water containing antibiotics. The obtained results showed, in support of the subjects belonging to the experimental group, a difference in weight without bearing statistically significant difference, higher consumption rates accompanied by a low mortality rate and a length of upper intestines. The enumeration of oocyst excretion showed a marked increase, characterized by three peaks corresponding to three episodes of coccidiosis in the control group and a much smaller increase without clinical expression in the experimental group. The autopsy of the animals sacrificed in the experimental group showed the total absence of clinical coccidiosis lesions unlike those performed to the subjects in the control group who presented a final average lesion score of 3.5 in D22, 3.8 and 3.2 respectively, on D30 and D45, confirming the recurrence of coccidiosis. The weight of the plucked and eviscerated carcasses and of the edible offal of the chickens who consumed food supplemented with probiotics and natural anticoccidial based on herbal extracts are superior to the weight of the subjects belonging to the control group. Key words: Pediococcus acidilactici, Yucca schidigera, Trigonella foenum-graecum, supplementation, broiler, feeding, zootechnical performance.