Broiler performance and intestinal alterations when fed drug-free diets

• DOI: 10.1093/ps/84.8.1294
• Publication Date: 2014-02-07T02:17:16Z
• Authors: X. Sun; A. McElroy; K.E. Webb; A.E. Sefton; C. Novak
• Keywords: Coccidia; Jejunum

A study was carried out to investigate the effects of a drug-free feeding program on broiler performance and intestinal morphology. Chicks vaccinated against coccidia were randomly assigned 4 dietary treatments: 1) negative control (NC), basal diet; 2) positive (PC), diet 1 + Lincomycin; 3) (PG1); Bio-Mos, Vegpro, MTB-100, Acid Pak 4-Way, All-Lac XCL; 4) 2 (PG2), Bio-Mos XCL, each which 13 pens (48 birds in 52 pens). Growth traits (BW, feed intake, yield, mortality, BW gain, conversion rate) obtained through 49 d. At d 14, 3 chicks per pen challenged with coccidia. Segments duodenum, ileum, ceca removed measure morphology at 28, 35, 49. Final gain broilers PC (2.736 kg) numerically higher than those for NC (2.650 kg). Cumulative rate improved (P < 0.05) consuming PG2 compared NC. Overall, mortality PC, PG1, diets. Interaction treatments age alone evident 0.0001) ceca. Lamina propria thicker 0.008) PG1 The results this indicated that without growth promoters resulted decreased did an antibiotic, combination XCL helped reduce effects.