Effects of Probiotics on Efficiencies of Feed Use and Slaughter Characteristics of 0-8 Week-Age Ac Broilers

Abstract

A feeding experiment was carried out in a randomly completed design with threetreatments to be three supplementary levels of probiotics (0%; 1%; 3%), and three replicates of ten birds for each in order to evaluate effects of added probiotics on efficiencies of feed use and slaughter characteristics. Birds were vaccinated against Newcastle, bird flu, Gumboro, and chicken pox. Feed and water were supplied in adlibitum in all treatments. One male and one female for each experimental unit were slaughtered at the finishing trial. Results showed that supplementing 3% probiotics caused birds to increase their bodyweight gain differently compared to the control treatment at 4.33 and 3.77 g/bird/day in 0-4 week-age period; 6.14 and 5.18 g/bird/-day in 5-8 week-age period. In addition, when 3% probiotics was added, resulted in decreasing birds’ FCR significantly from 2.577 to 2.016; influencing on carcass ratio, thigh, and breast weight; however, it did not affect feed intake, birds’ FCR of 0-4 week-age period, breast and thigh ratio, spleen, heart, and liver weight.