Prebiotics, organics acids and probiotics in rations for broilers

Abstract

The effect of the use of prebiotics, organic acids and probiotics on the performance and the cuts yield of broilers was evaluated in birds from 8 to 21 and from 22 to 43 days of age. It was used a completely randomized design, with 6 treatments and 4 replications, with 20 male Cobb chicks in the initial phase and 24 in the growth phase per experimental unit, totaling 1056 birds. The additives used in the treatments were: antibiotics (avilamycin and colistin), prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharides), prebiotic plus organic acids (fumaric and propionic), probiotic (Bacillus subtillis) and commercial mixture of probiotics (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Streptococcus thermophilus, Enterococcus faecium). No differences were found among treatments for the variables studied in the initial phase, but, in the growth phase, the birds that received treatment with prebiotic plus organic acids presented better feed:gain ratio than those received only prebiotic. Those which received the mixture of probiotics showed better breast yield than those received the basal diet without additives. It was concluded that mannanoligosaccharides, whether combined or not with organics fumaric and propionic acids, and probiotics can replace the antibiotics avilamycin and colistin in rations of broilers without loss of performance.