ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF PROBIOTIC ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF COCKEREL CHICKEN

Abstract

The contribution of poultry industry to the nutritional deficiency in the growing human populace cannot be over emphasized, as it supplies cheap and quick protein source. Aflatoxin contamination in poultry feed which causes aflatoxicosis has resulted into reduced feed intake, retarded growth and reduced weight gain in Cockerel chicken. A total of 120 cockerel chicks were randomly divided into four treatments (T), which included three replicates of ten birds each were fed with and without aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) or probiotic (P) additives over a period of three weeks. T1 (0 ml of P + 0 µi of Aflatoxins), T2 (AFB1, 35 µi/kg + 1ml of P/liter of drinking water), T3 (1ml of P/ liter of drinking water), and T4 (35 µi Aflatoxins per kg of feed). Data of cockerel chickens' body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were recorded and evaluated using one-way analysis of variance of SPSS package. The result showed a significant difference (P<0.05) in the initial weight, feed intake, final weight, weight gain, and daily weight gain. (T1) had the highest weight gain (372.52 g), while T2 had the best feed conversion ratio of 1.71, while T3 had the highest feed conversion ratio value of 1.79. In conclusion, the present results indicated that probiotic supplements improved the performance of cockerel chickens fed Aflatoxin B1 contaminated feed. The use of probiotics (Lactobacillus spp) in cockerel chicken production is recommended as a preventive measure to Aflatoxin contamination in cockerel feed.