Effect of a probiotic and a phytobiotic blend on the performance, health status and carcass yield of broilers

This research was conducted to study the efficacy of a probiotic, a phytobiotic blend, and their combination on the productive performance carcass yield and intestinal health of broiler chickens. Eight hundred and seventy five male chickens of the breeder hybrid EB-34 were used according to completely randomized design in five treatments: negative control (NC), positive control with Avylamicin (PC), probiotic Biomin (R) Poultry5Star (P5S) (A), phytobiotic blend (B) and combination probiotic + phytobiotic (A+B). The productive indicators evaluated were: feed intake, liveweight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF), and viability. Also, it was determined the carcass yield and the main portions (breast, drumsticks plus thigh, edible viscera and neck), and, anatomopathological lesions on ill and dead animals. The feed intake as well as the weight gain and the FCR were positively affected when the probiotic alone or combined with the phytobiotic blend was included in the diet. The FCR, in all the treatments was better than the negative control (1.84; 1.91; 1.92; 1.92 vs 1.98.). The breast yield was higher using the phytobiotic blend, alone or together with the probiotic. The EPEF was slightly lower using the probiotic, the phytobiotic blend or their combination. The anatomophatological lesions in the control group were coincident with enterobacteriosis and more evident than the other treatments (catarrhal enteritis: 62.2 vs. 16.6; 0; 21.4 and 20%; hemorrhagic enteritis: 32.2 vs. 0; 0; 7.1 and 0% and liver necrosis: 56 vs. 0; 0; 14.3 and 0%). However, with P5S the birds showed fewer lesions and were unspecific. The results suggested the possibility of using these products as natural growth promoters, because similar results as in antibiotic promoters may be obtained with more efficiency in approval of feed and better intestinal health status. Although, it is recommended to conduct further studies related to the nutrient digestibility and the body composition.