EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF CITRIC ACID, PROBIOTICS AND GROWTH PROMOTERS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, SAU during the period from July 2014 to December 2014 to assess the performance and hemato-logical profiles of broilers with different feed additives. A total of 160, day-old COBB-500 broiler chicks were reared for 35 days and performance and hemato- logical profiles were recorded weekly. In the present study, significantly (p<0.05) highest values were found with citric acid in live weight (1790.00±2.10 gm/bird) and weight gain (1737.50±3.12 gm/bird) followed by probiotics in live weight (1719.25±2.95 gm/bird) and weight gain (1670.00±4.11 gm/bird). The cumulative feed intake was highest for citric acid group (3028.00±1.47 gm/bird), which varied significantly (p<0.05) among probiotic (3015.50±4.80 gm/bird), antibiotic (3004.75±2.87 gm/bird) and control group (2940.50±5.12 gm/bird). For whole period, significantly highest (p<0.05) feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was found in citric acid group (574.80±2.88), intermediate in probiotic (554.97±3.32), and antibiotic group (548.46±2.43) as well as lowest in control group (525.08±1.74). Significantly (p<0.05) highest feed conversion ratio (FCR) found in citric acid group (1.74±0.003) of proliotic (1.80±0.007), antibiotic (1.82±0.004) and control group (1.90±0.007). On the last day of experiment, significantly (p<0.05) increased number of TEC was observed in citric acid group (3.27±0.09 million/mm3). Hemoglobin concentration was higher in citric acid group (8.75±0.32 gm %) than the probiotic (8.25±0.25 gm %), antibiotic (8.38±0.23 gm %) and control group (8.18±0.28 gm %) at the end of trial. The highest PCV was found in citric acid group (28.15±0.68%) and lowest in antibiotic group (27.30±0.69%) on 35 day. From the study, it can be concluded that citric acid, and probiotics have positive impacts on- studied parameters and can be used as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler production. Further study may be carried out to ascertain the matter.