Evaluation of the Effect of Probiotics on Growth Performance in Backyard Poultry Farming

Abstract

Early chick mortality is a common issue in improved germplasm of desi birds under backyard system of rearing. Probiotics is one of the feed additives to decrease chick mortality. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of probeads EC on growth performance and livability of vanaraja chicks. This study was conducted at Mangalapuram and Thussur villages of Namakkal district. A total no of 400 nos of vanaraja chicks were distributed to 4 woman groups. Each group consists of 4 replicates with 20 chicks in each. Group I was taken as control (C), Group II was supplemented with probeads EC once in two days (T1), Group III was supplemented with probeadsEConce in a week (T2) and Group IV was supplemented with probeads EC only day old chicks (T3) and Group V was supplemented with oxytetracycline continuously three days from day old (T4). All the treatment groups were supplemented with 5 beads per bird. The present study revealed T1was significantly (P<0.05) increased body weight compared to T2, T3 and control during second and fourth weeks of age of vanaraja chicks. The livability of vanaraja chicks was 87.21, 86.43, 83.52, 79.23 & 77.26 % in T4, T1, T2, control and T3 respectively. The present study concluded that supplementation probeads EC once in two days increased body weight and livability of vanaraja chicken compared to control.