Growth performance, carcass characteristics, organs measurement and haematology of broiler chickens fed a high fibre diet supplemented with antibiotics or dried yeast

Abstract

AbstractFour antibiotics, namely procaine penicillin, tylosin, streptomycin and neomycin‐oxytetracycline each at 150 mg · kg−1, and four levels of dried yeast, viz. 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.5 g · kg−1 were incorporated into a basal high fibre diet containing 250 g · kg−1 palm kernel meal. The unsupplemented diet was the control. The nine experimental diets were fed to broilers between 7 and 42 days of age to evaluate performance, carcass characteristics, organ weights and haematology in response to the supplements. The investigation revealed that broilers fed antibiotics or dried yeast supplemented diets attained heavier (P < 0.05) body weights, consumed greater (P < 0.05) quantities of feed except on penicillin and 6.0 g · kg−1 dried yeast, converted the feed better (P < 0.05), and yielded heavier carcass and cut‐parts than those fed the unsupplemented diet. Organ weights were similar in broilers on the treatments, except the greater (P < 0.05) hepatic, spleenic and gizzard weights and lengthier intestinal tracts in birds fed dried yeast. Haematological indices were superior (P < 0.05) in broilers fed supplemented diets to the basal group.The data suggest improvement in performance, carcass yield and haematology of broilers as a result of antibiotics or dried yeast supplementation of a high fibre diet.