Effects of Feeding Multi-Strain Probiotics and Multi-Enzymes to Broilers on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology and Cost Effectiveness of Production

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of feeding multi-strain probiotics and multi-enzymes on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and cost-effectiveness in commercial broiler production. Four hundred eighty Cobb 500 straight run broiler chicks were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments each of eight replications having 20 birds each. The basal diets were corn-soya broiler starter and broiler grower diets. Starter diet was fed up to 21 days and grower diet during 22-35 days. In treatment 1, chicks were fed a basal diet (Diet 1), in treatment 2, chicks received a basal diet plus a multi-strain probiotics @100g/100kg feed (Diet 2) and in the third treatment, the basal diet was supplemented with multi-enzymes @100g/100kg feed (Diet 3). The birds were reared following identical care and management. Growth performance data were recorded weekly. Samples of intestinal segments were collected and examined for intestinal morphology at the end of the feeding trial (35 days). Data were analyzed using SAS Computer Package Program (version 9.1, SAS, 2009). Results showed that the addition of multi-strain probiotics and multi-enzymes to diets independently improved body weight, feed conversion ratio, and decreased feed intake as compared to control. Multi-strain probiotics significantly increased duodenum villi height, width and reduced crypt depth (p<0.01). The jejunum and ileum villi height and width were significantly increased in the multi-enzymes supplemented group but showed a reduction in crypt depth (p<0.01). Feeding multi-strain probiotics to broilers were more cost-effective. In conclusion, multi-strain probiotics and multi enzymes in diet enhances growth performance, improves feed efficiency, intestinal morphology, and increases profit.