3/6/2018 Effects of antibiotic growth promoter alternatives on performance of broilers - Engormix

Engormix / Poultry Industry / Technical articles / Nutrition

Effects of antibiotic growth promoter alternatives on performance of

broilers
Published on: 2/15/2018
Author/s : Mohammad Hosein Shahir, Saeed Ghassemi / Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan,
Zanjan, Iran.

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Summary

Abstract

Due to increased concern about the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP), an experiment was
conducted to compare the effect of different AGP alternatives on performance, carcass traits and
mortality of broilers. 396 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design
with 3 replicates to 12 treatment groups: A negative control diet without any additive, 2 AGPs as positive
controls, 2 probiotics; 2 prebiotics; 2 enzymes; a symbiotic, cupric sulfate and an organic acid.
Experimental period was between 14 to 42 days of age. All additives improved (p<0.05) weight gain, feed
intake and feed conversion ratio relative to negative control. The best performance obtained by AGPs.
Treatment groups had not significant effects on mortality rate. Carcass traits (including carcass, breast,
thigh and abdominal fat percentage) were not significantly different among positive control and treatment
groups. Overall, the results suggested that AGPs can be effectively substituted by different alternatives.

Keywords: antibiotics; alternatives; performance; broilers

Introduction

Antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) are used worldwide to prevent poultry pathogens and disease so as to
improve meat and egg production. However, the use of AGP resulted in common problems such as
development of drug-resistant bacteria, drug residues in the body of birds, and imbalance of normal
microflora. As a consequence, it has become necessary to develop alternatives using either beneficial
microorganisms or nondigestible ingredients that enhance growth (Awad et al 2009). Recently a variety of
products has been developed as an alternative to AGPs that could be added to the feed of a poultry flock
to improve production or to reduce the spread of diseases (Griggs and Jacob 2005). Some of these
potential additives are enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, organic acids, cupric sulfate, essential
oils and other plant-derived products. Little researches have been conducted in order to compare
different industrial additives. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of these products as an
alternative to AGPs.

Material and Methods

Three hundred ninety-six male broiler chicks were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design
with 3 replicates to 12 treatment groups: A negative control diet without any additive, 2 AGPs as positive
controls (Lincomycin® and Flapol® ) , 2 probiotics (Galipro® and Biosaf® ); 2 prebiotics (Safmannan®
and Active mos® ); 2 enzymes (Avizyme® and Natuzyme® ); a symbiotic (Galipro® + Safmannan® ),
cupric sulphate (Cu) and an organic acid (sodium benzoate). Experimental period was between 14 to 42

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3/6/2018 Effects of antibiotic growth promoter alternatives on performance of broilers - Engormix

days of age. Feed intake and weight gain measured weekly and mortality recorded daily. At the end of
the experiment, samples of birds were slaughtered and carcass traits were measured. Data were
analyzed by GLM procedure of SPSS (16). Duncan multiple range test was used for mean comparison.

Result and Discussion

All additives improved (p<0.05) weight gain (up to 7%), feed intake and feed conversion ratio (up to 4%)
relative to negative control (table 1). The best performance obtained by AGPs. Treatments had not
significant effects on mortality rate. Carcass traits (including carcass, breast, thigh and abdominal fat
percentage) were not significantly different between AGP and its alternatives but carcass and breast
percentage were different from negative control (Table 1; p<0.05). Overall, the results suggested that
AGPs can be effectively substituted by different alternatives (enzymes, symbiotic and Cu in this
experiment). These findings were consistent with Awad et al (2009), Griggs and Jacob (2005) and Owens
et al (2008).

Presented at the 18th European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition.

References

Awad, WA, Ghareeb K, Abdel-Raheem S, Böhm J. 2009. Effects of dietary inclusion of probiotic and
synbiotic on growth performance, organ weights, and intestinal histomorphology of broiler chickens. Poult
Sci.88: 49-56

Griggs JP, Jacob JP, 2005. Alternatives to Antibiotics for Organic Poultry Production. J Appl Poult Res.
14:750 756

Owens B, Tucker L, Collins MA, McCracken KJ. 2008. Effects of different feed additives alone or in
combination on broiler performance, gut microflora and ileal histology. Br Poult Sci. 49: 202-212.

Author/s

Mohammad Hosein Shahir

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Saeed Ghassemi

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