CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS PROVIDED WITH LOCALLY MADE PROBIOTICS AS REPLACEMENT FOR ANTIBIOTICS

Abstract

Locally formulated probiotics were prepared in the biological laboratory of Ekiti State Polytechnic in three separate 5 Litre capacity air-tight plastic kegs each having maize, sorghum and rice as substrates respectively. They were then used to wholly replace Tetracin® (a feed-grade antibiotic) in the diet of Arbor Acre broiler

chickens in 3 separate treatments (corresponding to each formulation) through feed administration from week 2 onwards of brooding till week 8 of rearing. There were two control diets (Treatments 1 and 2, respectively) that had inclusion of Tetracin® at the recommended rate and no inclusion of Tetracin®, respectively. Initial and final body weight of birds were determined in addition to weekly feed intake. At the end of the feeding trial, 20 birds per treatment were slaughtered, defeathered, eviscerated and dressed, with primal cuts made and weight of various organs determined. The live weight, bled weight and eviscerated weight respectively were significantly (P<0.05) higher in Treatments 1 and 5 compared toTreatments 2, 3 and 4). As for the primal cuts, breast weight was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Treatments 1 (1405g), 2 (1468g) and 5 (1343g) compared to 3 (1063g) and 4 (1197g). Proximate composition revealed that the sorghum based probiotic had the highest protein content (2.67%) while it was least in maize (1.10%). The Nitrogen free extractives fraction was least in rice based probiotic (4.57%) and highest in maize (10.02%). It is recommended that local substrates be used in formulating probiotics in broiler chickens’ diet for easy adoption by farmers.