Use of Marine Sulfated Polysaccharide as an alternative to antibiotics in the diet of broilers

Abstract

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the efficacy of Marine Sulfated Polysaccharide enhanced by a blend of organic acids (AseaD) as an alternative to colistin in the diet of broilers. A total of two hundred and sixteen one-day-old male chicks (Ross 308, initial body weight: 42.25 ± 0.42 g/bird) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments each represented with 12 replicate cages of 9 birds. The dietary treatments included (1) basal diet with antibiotic (Control, basal diet + 20 ppm colistin) and (2) basal diet without antibiotic + 0.3% AseaD (AseaD). Birds in the control were fed a basal diet containing colistin from 1 to 28 days of age only. There were no differences in ADG and ADFI between the 2 treatments at any phases or for the overall period (P > 0.05). Similarly, no differences in FCR were found during d 1-28 or the overall period (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, the FCR of broilers fed AseaD (1.893) was lower than that of broilers fed the control diet (1.991) from 29 to 42 days of age (P = 0.016). No differences in the survival rate of birds were found between the 2 treatments (P > 0.05). These results confirm the potency of AseaD in broiler diets as a potential alternative to colistin used at a concentration of 20 ppm, with significant benefits and interest during the finishing period when colistin is withdrawn from a diet.