Journal of FARM SCIENCES, Vol 13, No 4 (2000)

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Performance of Broilers Supplemented with Probiotics

D.G. Naik, J. Javedmulla, M.C. Shivakumar

Abstract


An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus. Saccharomyces cerevisiae and their combination) supplementation on the performance of broilers for 42 days. The data on body weight, feed efficiency, mortality and dressing percentage was recorded. Supplementation of Lactobacillus in addition to the basal diet at the rate of 0.05% significantly (P< 0.05) improved the body weight and feed efficiency compared to unsupplemented control with basal diet and mixed probiotic (0.025% Lactobacillus and 0.025% Saccharomyces) groups. Birds fed with 0.05% Saccharomyces resulted in significantly (P< 0.05) higher body weight gain as compared to control and mixed probiotic groups. The mortality rate (5%) was similar in all the groups. Dressing percentage with giblet and without giblet did not differ significantly (P> 0.05) among the groups. Feed cost/kg live weight was lower in the group fed with Lactobacillus, suggesting that the group fed with Lactobacillus acidophius performed better than other groups.

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