Effect of probiotic, prebiotic, synbiotic and medicinal plants on productive performance of broilers fed on different levels of protein

Abstract EN

The aim of this study was to investigate the response of broilers fed on test diets containing non-antibiotic growth promoters; Probiotic (BioPlus 2B), Prebiotic (TechnoMos), Synbiotic, and medicinal herbs (Mixture of Origanum majorana, Foeniculum vulgare, and Carum carvi in ratio 1:1:1), each within two dietary protein levels (normal and low), on these broiler performance.

The study was carried out at the Poultry Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture; Alexandria University, Egypt.

The experimental period lasted for 42 days.

A total number of 500 days from Cobb broiler chicks, with similar average live body weight, were randomly distributed into 10 treatments.

Each treatment comprised of 5 replicates of 10 chicks each.

Ten experimental diets were formulated to be approximately isocaloric and cover all nutrients required for broiler throughout two stages of growth periods, starter diets (1 - 21) and finisher diets (22 - 42) days of age.

Ten experimental diets were consisting of two levels of crude protein (recommended or low (85% of recommended)) and five feed-additive programmes (control, probiotic, prebiotic, synbiotic and medicinal plants).

In general, feeding broiler lower crude protein levels (-10% of NRC) resulted in poorer growth performance, which was partially compensated with the non-antibiotic additives.

Among the additives, synbiotic had positively significant effects on FCR, BW.