Effects of Probiotics Supplementation on Growth Performance, Feed Conversion Ratio and Economics of Broilers

Table 2 : Average total gain in body weight, Feed intake, FCR and economics of broiler chicks fed different levels of probiotics

Treatments

Replications

‘P’ Value

T ₁

T 2

T 3

Initial body weight

42.58 ± 0.38

42.27 ± 0.39

42.63 ± 0.46

NS

Final body weight

1700.11 b ± 16.77

1724.12 b ±18.22

1790.82 a ±17.49

0.001***

Gain in body weight (g/bird)

Average daily gain

39.48 ± 0.15 b

39.99 ± 0.10 b

41.63 ± 0.25 a

0.001 ***

Starter phase

556.21± 3.56 c

568.28 ± 5.83 b

579.51 ± 4.01 a

0.01 *

Finisher phase

1101.82 ±6.18 b

1111.45 ±8.97 b

1168.90 ±11.78 a

0.001 ***

Overall

1658.02±6.34 b

1679.73±4.25 b

1748.42 ±10.54 a

0.001 ***

Feed intake (g/bird)

Starter phase

726.27 ± 8.02

727.68 ± 7.37

730.16 ± 2.87

NS

Finisher phase

2414.64 ± 25.15

2407.08 ± 15.26

2435.26 ± 25.02

NS

Overall

3140.91 ± 29.97

3134.76 ± 15.24

3165.42 ± 23.12

NS

Average daily feed intake

74.79 ± 0.71

74.64 ± 0.36

75.37 ± 0.55

NS

FCR (kg feed/kg gain)

Starter phase

1.30 ± 0.01

1.28 ± 0.01

1.26 ± 0.01

NS

Finisher phase

2.19 ± 0.03 b

2.17 ± 0.02 b

2.08 ± 0.01 a

0.008 **

Overall

1.90 ± 0.02 b

1.87 ±0.01 b

1.81± 0.01 a

0.010 **

Economics of feeding

Cost of feeding ( ` )

84.05 ± 0.80

84.25 ± 0.41

85.43 ± 0.62

NS

Return over feed cost ( ` )

26.45± 1.05 b

27.82 ± 0.61 b

30.99 ± 0.39 a

0.001**

Means with different superscripts in a row differ significantly.

*(P < 0.05) ** (P < 0.01) *** (P < 0.001) NS- non-significant

and thorough sanitary measures were adopted to minimize

and finisher (22–42 days). Feed and water were offered

disease occurrence. Appropriate vaccination was done

ad libitium to each group throughout experimental period.

to protect the birds against commonly occurring poultry

The details regarding the proportions of feed ingredients

diseases. The floor were cleaned, disinfected and dried

used for manufacturing of basal diet and calculated

before spreading the bedding material.

nutrient composition of basal diet are given in Table 1.

Nutrient levels of the diets for broilers were based on the

Experimental diets

NRC (1994) recommendations of nutrient requirements of

broiler chickens. The proximate analysis of experimental

The basal diet was obtained from commercial feed mill and

diets was carried out as per AOAC (1995) method. All

considered as control. The Broiler chicks were fed in three

the experimental chicks were properly vaccinated against

phases viz . pre-starter (0–10 days), starter (11–21 days)

various diseases like New Castle Disease, Infectious

Bursal Disease etc.

Journal of Animal Research: v.5 n.1. April 2015

157