Abstract
An experiment was carried out with female broilers, aiming to evaluate the effect of using probiotics and symbiotics on growth performance and yield of carcasses and of the main commercial cuts and edible viscera. A total of 720 one-day-old Cobb chicks, distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with four treatments and six replicates of 30 birds each at a stocking density of 10 birds per square meter (m2). At 42 days old two broilers of each experimental unit were sacrificed to evaluate the carcass yield and its parts. The carcass yield was not affected by the inclusion of probiotics and symbiotics in the diet being equivalent to the antibiotic group. No significant difference was observed among the treatments, even in the controls that did not receive any additive factor. All the performance parameters were similar for the four treatments, with the exception of weight gain, that was significantly lower in probiotic treatment. It was concluded that these additives are important alternative to replace antibiotics as growth enhancers, which have already been banned in many countries.
Highlights
The first scientific work related to the use of antimicrobials in animals was published in 1949, which demonstrated the beneficial effect of the use of chlortetracycline at sub therapeutic levels for birds
The excessive use of antibiotics in food production of animal origin has contributed to the appearance of bacterial resistance in these animals, which is a cause of worldwide concern (GarciaMigura, Hendriksen, Fraile, & Aarestrup, 2014)
Acids, prebiotics and probiotics, herbs or etheric oils are some examples of classes of products that are used as growth enhancers alternatives to antibiotics (Huyghebaert, Ducatelle, & Van Immerseel, 2011)
Summary
The first scientific work related to the use of antimicrobials in animals was published in 1949, which demonstrated the beneficial effect of the use of chlortetracycline at sub therapeutic levels for birds. The excessive use of antibiotics in food production of animal origin has contributed to the appearance of bacterial resistance in these animals, which is a cause of worldwide concern (GarciaMigura, Hendriksen, Fraile, & Aarestrup, 2014). Considering that these animals are intended for human consumption, it is possible for these bacteria. Probiotics are products composed of live microorganisms used to beneficially affect the host animal, promoting intestinal microbiota balance (Fuller, 1989) They act by maintaining normal intestinal microbiota by competitive exclusion and antagonism; they alter metabolism by increasing digestive enzymatic activity and decrease bacterial enzymatic activity and ammonia production; they improve food intake and digestion, and stimulate the immune system (Kabir, 2009; Perumalla, Hettiarachchy, & Ricke, 2011). The objective of this study was to evaluate growth performance and carcass yield, as well as commercial cuts and edible viscera yields of female broilers fed diets containing antibiotic, probiotic and symbiotic, at the 42th day of life
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