Effects of a Commercial Probiotic Product (Pro RojoTic®) on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chicken
Charles Mpemba *
Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Southern Highlands Zone Office, P.O. Box 6191, Mbeya, Tanzania.
Lokoo Mwaipopo
Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Southern Highlands Zone Office, P.O. Box 6191, Mbeya, Tanzania.
Seleman Masola
Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Southern Highlands Zone Office, P.O. Box 6191, Mbeya, Tanzania.
Gryson Mutabazi
Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Southern Highlands Zone Office, P.O. Box 6191, Mbeya, Tanzania.
Edwin Chang’a
Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Southern Highlands Zone Office, P.O. Box 6191, Mbeya, Tanzania.
William Kikoti
TALIRI Lake Zone Office, P.O. Box 124, Misungwi, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Fadhili Guni
TALIRI Southern Zone Office, P.O. Box 1425, Mtwara, Tanzania.
Erick Komba
TALIRI Headquarters Office, P.O. Box 834, Dodoma, Tanzania.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study was conducted to assess the effects of a commercial probiotic product (Pro RojoTic®) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken.
Study Design: Completely randomized design.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Uyole Centre, in the Southern Highlands Zone of Tanzania. The centre lies between latitude 8°53’S and longitude 33°39’E and it lies 1798 metres above mean sea level. The average temperature is 23°C with December being the warmest month with temperature of 26°C, and July having a temperature of around 6°C. The annual precipitation is 1200 mm and it commence from November to May. The feeding trial was carried out for 5 weeks.
Methodology: Two hundred Ross-308 broiler chickens were raised under the intensive management system for 35 days. They were grouped into two groups; one group was fed basal feed and supplemented with Pro RojoTic® (One bolus of Pro RojoTic® was mixed in 20 litres of clean water and given as drinking water) while other group was used as control which was fed basal feed without Pro Rojotic® supplementation. Each group was divided into four groups of 25 chicks each and kept in pens.
Results: There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in weight gain and feed conversion ratio between the control group and treatment group that was supplemented with probiotics. There were significant differences on the carcass characteristics where the group supplemented with Pro Rojotic® showed higher values. In the group supplemented with Pro RojoTic® the proportions of drumstick to body weight were higher (P<0.05) while there was no significant difference on the proportions of breast weight and thigh weight to body weight.
Conclusion: Based on these findings, it is concluded that supplementation of broiler chickens with Pro RojoTic® enhances growth performance and meat characteristics.
Keywords: Body weight, FCR, probiotics, supplementation, weight gain