EFFECT OF PROBIOTICS AND ANTIBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTATION ON BODY WEIGHT AND HAEMATO-BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN BROILERS

Abstract

The study was carried out to know the effects of probiotics (Proetxin® Boost, Novartis Bangladesh Ltd.) and antibiotic (oxytetracycline-Renamycin®, Renata Animal Health) on growth performances and haemato-biochemical parameters of "Shaver Star Bro" broiler chickens during September and October 2003. A total of 20, day old broilers were randomly selected and assigned into four equal groups n = 5) as A, B, C and D. Group A was considered as control group fed with commercial ration while groups B, C and D were fed with commercial ration with the addition of 200 mg probiotics / liter drinking water, 100 mg probiotics and 50 mg antibiotic (oxytetracycline- Renamycin®) / liter drinking water and 100 mg antibiotic (oxytetracycline- Renamycin®) / liter drinking water respectively up to 35 days of age. The results showed that the body weight gains differed significantly (p < 0.05) at the 2nd, 4th and 5th weeks of age in different treatment groups. The meat yield not differed significantly (p > 0.05). The drumstick, wing differed significantly (p < 0.01) and spleen weight differed at p < 0.05 among different groups. The mean haemato-biochemical values of Hb, ESR, PCV, heterophil, eosinophil, basophil, triglyceride, HDL, LDL, SGPT and SGOT were differed significantly (p < 0.01) in different groups. The present findings suggest that supplementation of probiotics has significant effect on growth performance and certain haemato-biochemical parameters of broiler chickens as compared to antibiotic supplementation.