Abstract:
Effects of an antibiotic
growth promoter (flavomycin), a probiotic mixture (protexin) or a mixture
of organic acids including plant extract and mineral salts (genex) on
performance, intestinal microbial flora and tissue morphology have been
examined in 160 day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks. Commercial corn-soybean-based
broiler starter and grower diets were formulated as basal diets for
control treatment. Basal diets were supplemented with a probiotic (0.1%
protexin), an antibiotic growth promoter (0.1% flavomycin), an organic
acids mixture (0.2% genex) or a combination of a probiotic with an organic
acids mixture (0.1% protexin+0.2% genex). In total, five dietary treatments
were employed in the trial. Live weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion
ratio and mortality were not affected by dietary treatments throughout
the experiment. However, relative weight of the small intestine of antibiotic
treatment had significantly less than that of the basal diet. Intestinal
microbial flora and tissue were determined at 21th and 42th days. In
both periods, antibiotic or organic acids mixture treatments significantly
decreased total bacteria counts. In addition to that all treatments
significantly decreased gram negative bacteria counts compared to the
basal diet. Probiotic treatment significantly increased ileum and jejunum
villus height, whereas antibiotic treatment significantly decreased
muscularis thickness compared to the basal diet.
M. Gunal , G. Yayli , O. Kaya , N. Karahan and O. Sulak , 2006. The Effects of Antibiotic Growth Promoter, Probiotic
or Organic Acid Supplementation on Performance, Intestinal Microflora
and Tissue of Broilers . International Journal of Poultry Science, 5: 149-155.
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