Effect of different non-antibiotic feed additives either alone or in combination on the performance and cost economics of broiler chickens

Abstract

In the present study, effect of different non-antibiotic feed additives either alone or in combination on the performance and cost economics of broiler chickens was investigated. Day-old commercial male broiler chicks (270) were randomly divided into nine treatment groups with six replicates of five birds in each. The dietary groups consisted of control diet, antibiotic (Virginiamycin @ 500 g/ton), probiotic (Protexin @ 500 g/ton), acidifier (Biotronic SE @ 3 kg/ton), prebiotic (Mos @ 500 g/ton) and its combinations with different inclusion rates. The results indicated that mean average body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of broilers were significantly influenced by addition of probiotic, prebiotic and acidifier either alone or in combination during prestarter, starter and finisher phases without showing any significant effect on average feed intake. Supplementation of dietary feed additives (except probiotic + acidifier) fed group yielded higher returns over feed cost compared to control and antibiotic fed groups. The highest return per bird was recorded with acidifier followed by probiotic + Mos groups.