Evaluation of the effects produced by the addition of growth-promoting products to broiler feed*

Authors: MEHMET ARMUT, AYHAN FİLAZİ

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of feed additives on broiler productivity. Probiotics, oligosaccharides, organic acids, and avilamycin were used either alone or in combination to improve productivity in terms of body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality rate. Broiler chicks (n = 900) were randomly divided into 9 groups. Group 1 was separated from the other groups and used as the control group; the chickens in this group were fed corn soybean until the end of the study. The other groups were fed corn soybean and the following food additives: probiotics (Group 2), oligosaccharides [mannan oligosaccharide (MOS)] (Group 3), organic acids (Group 4), probiotics + oligosaccharides (Group 5), probiotics + organic acids (Group 6), oligosaccharides + organic acids (Group 7), avilamycin (Group 8), and probiotics + oligosaccharides + organic acids (Group 9). The body weight and feed intake parameters were checked weekly, and the mortality rate was followed on a daily basis. The broilers were fed until they were 44 days old. Body weight and FCR were higher in the group given probiotics + oligosaccharides + organic acids (Group 9). Based on the results, we concluded that these growth-promoting products have positive effects that act synergistically, thereby leading to improved growth and feed conversion. The results of this study show that probiotics, oligosaccharides, and organic acid mixtures can be used as good alternative feed supplements to antibiotics.

Keywords: Antibiotic, broiler, oligosaccharide, organic acid, probiotic

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