Impact of Probiotics and Acidifiers on Growth Performance and Blood Chemistry of Broiler Chickens

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of probiotics, acidifiers and their combination on broiler growth performance and blood chemistry. A total of 220 day old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four experimental diets in a completely randomized design. Diet A basal diet as control, diet B basal diet supplemented with 500g/ton probiotic (bacillus subtilis), diet C supplemented with 2kg/ton organic acids (citric acid, fumaric acid, D-L malic acid, lactic acid, orthophosphoric acid), diet D supplemented with mixture of acidifier (2kg/ton) plus probiotic (500g/ton). Feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were recorded on weekly basis throughout the experiment period. Blood serum parameters measured were glucose, albumin, total protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium. The results showed that statistically there was no significant increase in body weight gain at weeks 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of age. The body weight of broiler chickens was significantly increased at weeks 2 of age when adding 0.05 % bacillus subtilis. Dietary treatments had significant effect at second and third weeks on FCR. The data indicated that there were no significant effects of treatment on all blood parameters measured at day 21. However, at day 42 the cholesterol and triglyceride levels were numerically decreased as probiotic and acidifier were added. Birds fed diet contained 0.2 % organic acid recorded the highest levels of serum glucose and lowest levels of serum calcium. While the highest value of serum calcium was obtained by birds received mixed diet (diet D). It concluded that inclusion of probiotic and probiotic plus acidifier to broiler chickens diets improved live body weight, blood serum parameters were not affected except blood calcium and glucose.