Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotics and prebiotics of bacterial and yeast origin on the performance, development of the digestive system, carcass yield and meat quality of free-range broiler chickens. Five hundred and sixty male chicks of the strain ISA S757-N were reared from one to 84 days old. The birds were distributed in four treatments according to a completely randomized block design: T1 = Control, T2 = Probiotics and Prebiotics of bacterial origin, T3 = Probiotics and prebiotics of yeast origin, T4 = Probiotics and prebiotics of bacterial origin + probiotics and prebiotics of yeast origin. There were four repetitions with 35 birds per repetition, and the birds had access to a pasture area after 35 days of age. Characteristics evaluated were performance, development of the digestive system, carcass and parts yield, abdominal fat, breast meat physical measurements (length, width and height) and meat quality parameters (pH from breast and leg meat, cooking loss and shearing force from breast meat). Lower mortality (p<0.05) and higher weight gain from 64 to 77 and 64 to 84 days of age were seen in birds supplemented with probiotics and prebiotics of bacterial origin compared to the non-supplemented birds (control). There were significant differences (p<0.05) among treatments for carcass yield. Birds supplemented with both probiotics and prebiotics of microbial and yeast origin (T4) showed higher carcass yield than control birds. Supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics of bacterial origin (T2) or the supplementation of these together with those of yeast origin (T4) reduced mortality and increased the carcass yield in free-range broiler chickens.
Highlights
The criteria for the production of organic foodstuffs in Brazil are described by two regulations issued by Ministério da Agricultura (Ministry of Agriculture; Brasil, 1999): Portaria MA No 505 from 16/10/1998 and Instrução Normativa No 007 from 17/05/1999
Probiotics are food supplements that act as growth promoters according to Fuller (1989), and they compete with pathogenic bacteria in the colonization of the intestinal environment
The probiotics of yeast origin associated with the prebiotics present on the cell wall of such yeast was provided by the commercial product Levucell SB 20, given from 1 to 77 days of age at 100g/ton diet
Summary
The criteria for the production of organic foodstuffs in Brazil are described by two regulations issued by Ministério da Agricultura (Ministry of Agriculture; Brasil, 1999): Portaria MA No 505 from 16/10/1998 and Instrução Normativa No 007 from 17/05/1999. Regulations for free-range broiler chikens production are in the Oficio Circular No 007 from 19/05/99 (Brasil, 1999). Specific strains must be used and diets should not contain ingredients of animal origin, chemical growth promoters and coccidiostats. Birds must be inside poultry houses up to 28 days of age and afterwards should have access to a pasture area with at least 3 m2 per bird. The rearing period should be of at least 85 days. The association of probiotics and prebiotics is an alternative for the use of chemical additives in the production of free-range broiler chickens. Probiotics are food supplements that act as growth promoters according to Fuller (1989), and they compete with pathogenic bacteria in the colonization of the intestinal environment
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