Use of probiotic in the diets of F1 crossbred cockerels

What is it about?

A study was conducted to evaluate four different probiotic levels, using diets supplemented with 0 (control), 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% or 0.5% of organic-green culture-zs (probiotic). At 12 weeks of age BW and feed to gain ratio (FCR) of cockerls were determined. At the end of 42 days of experiment, nine birds per treatment were sacrificed to evaluate carcass characteristics, abdominal fat contents and the internal organs. Blood haemato-biochemical parameters were also determined. Haemagglutination inhibition antibody titres against Newcastle disease virus and lymphoid organs weight/body weight ratio were also determined. The BW of birds fed 0.2–0.5% of probiotic was significantly greater than birds fed without probiotic diet. Similarly, better FCR was observed in birds those fed diets of high level of probiotic. There was no mortality recorded at higher levels of probiotics. Differences in carcass characteristics, organs weight, meat composition, haematological values and HDL and LDL concentrations among all the diets were non-significant. However, abdominal fat contents reduced significantly in supplemented groups in relation to Control and cholesterol contents were reduced significantly in 0.3% or 0.5% supplemented groups in relation to control. Feeding levels of 0.2–0.5% of probiotic, did positively affect the immune system within the parameters measured.

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Why is it important?

Several studies have shown that the addition of probiotics to the diets of broilers leads to improved performance. In contrast of above, Tested probiotics did not result in improvements in broiler production efficiency over the control group. However, there is no evidence to test the probiotic effect on performance of cross bred (RIR · Fayoumi) cockerels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various levels of organic-green cultures on the performance characteristics, haemato-biochemical parameters and humoral immunity of cross bred (RIR · Fayoumi) cockerels.

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