Effects of Probiotic and Antibiotic on Performance and Growth Attributes of Broiler Chicks

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of commercial probiotic mixtures (Liptosafe-L) via drinking water of broiler chickens in comparison with Antibiotic (Newmycin) on performance of Broiler Chicks and growth attributes. 120 broiler chicks (Ross 308) day old, and average weight of 41 grams, were subjected to a 41-day experimental period. The chick's were randomly divided into three experimental treatment groups; probiotic, antibiotic, and control group. Each group with four replicates (10 chicks per replicate). Birds in the first group were supplied with 0.5 ml of probiotic per one liter of water for the whole growth period while the antibiotic mixture is administrated at a rate of 0.20 gm per liter of water along the growth period. In these two cases the growth promoters were stopped at 7days before slaughtering (safety period). Birds in the control group received water without growth promoter. Results of the experiment showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) in body weight gain (gm), feed conversion ratio and final body weight (gm). For Feed intake (gm), and mortality rate (%) there is no significant difference between probiotic and antiboitic (p>0.05) but both differ significantly if compared with control (p<0.05). Broilers fed probiotic statistically consumed more feed over the entire experimental periods. In contrast feed conversion efficiency did not improved in different periods in growth promoter supplemented groups compared to control birds. In conclusion the results obtained in this study indicated that dietary inclusion of probiotic and antibiotic supported a superior performance of chicks and can be applied as antibiotic growth promoter substitutions in broilers diet.