GROWTH AND PRODUCTION RESPONSES OF BOSCHVELD CHICKENS TO BAKERS’ YEAST SUPPLEMENTATION

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of probiotic-yeast supplementation on growth and productivity of Boschveld chickens reared intensively from 1-91 days of age. Birds were raised on commercial starter mash (1-49 days) and grower mash (50 to 91 days). Six hundred unsexed Boschveld chicks with a mean live weight of 27.8 ± 1.07 g were allotted into six treatment groups. Each group was divided into five replicates of 20 chickens. Birds in each group were assigned to a diet containing 18-20% crude protein and 3001.38-3009.98 Kcal/kg energy, but with increasing levels of bakers’ yeast (TS) at 0 (TS0), 2.5 (TS2.5), 5.0 (TS5), 7.5 (TS7.5), 10.0 (TS10) and 12.5 g/kg feed (TS12.5). Experimental chickens were raised in a deep litter house; feed and water were given ad libitum. Data on growth performance indices, apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen retention were collected and analysed statistically at p < 0.05. Treatment means where significant were separated using Duncan’s test for multiple comparisons. Results revealed that dietary probiotic-yeast supplementation had no significant influence on feed intake and AME in Boschveld chickens. Chickens fed treatment diets had better final live weight (FLW), feed conversion efficiency (FCE), average daily gain (ADG) and nitrogen retention in comparison with chickens fed control diet. Our results demonstrated that probiotic-yeast supplementation at 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 g/kg feed had a positive effect on performance indices of indigenous Boschveld chickens reared in a closed confinement from 1 up to 91 days of age.