Effects of dietary supplementation of Bekang as probiotics source on growth, nutrient utilization, carcass traits and production efficiency of broilers

Abstract

The Bekang is a rich source of probiotics and may be a suitable alternative to fermented feed and AGPs for broilers. One-day old 240 broiler chicks were assigned to 6 dietary treatments: T1 (basal ration), T2 (basal ration + Bacitracin methylene disalicylate @ 0.5 g/kg basal ration), T3 (basal ration + fermented feed by Lactobacillus acidophilus @ 100 g/kg), T4 (basal ration + Bekang @ 50 g/kg), T5 (basal ration + Bekang @ 75 g/kg) and T6 (basal ration + Bekang @ 100 g/kg). The broiler chicks were housed under deep litter system with vaccination and deworming as per schedule. Feeding and watering were done ad lib. A metabolic trial and study on carcass traits were conducted at 6th week and FCR and ERS were calculated. Feed intakes were significantly higher in T3, T4, T5 and T6 than T1 and T2; whereas body weight gain and final body weight were significantly high in T5 and T6. No significant effects on nutrient utilization and carcass traits were recorded between groups. Significantly better FCR was recorded in T3, T4, T5 and T6and highest ERS was recorded in T6. The study revealed that Bekang could be a substitute of fermented feed and AGP and dietary supplementation as low as 50 g/kg ration may be recommended to broilers.