Author/Authors :
Tsopito ، C. M. نويسنده Department of Animal Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana. , , Mmereki ، G. E. نويسنده Department of Veterinary Services, Private Bag 8, Selebi-Pikwe. , , Mushi ، E. Z. نويسنده Department of Animal Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana. , , Moreki ، J. C. نويسنده Department of Animal Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana. ,
Abstract :
The effects of dietary supplementation of a commercial probiotic (Biopro) on daily feed consumption, egg yield, egg weight, feed conversion ratio and humoral immune response in Hyline Brown layer hens from 27 to 34 weeks of age were investigated. Five hundred and ten layers with an average of 80% hen-day egg-production, were randomly and equally distributed into two groups of 255 birds each. The birds were housed 4-5 birds per laying cage in a battery cage set up within a common room. The birds were then allocated to one of the two dietary treatments as follows: basal commercial layers’ diet (control) or basal commercial layers’ diet supplemented with one millilitre (ml) Biopro per one litre water. There were no ( > P0.05) differences between control and the Biopro treatment in feed intake, feed conversion ratios, egg yield and weights. Similarly, the humoral immune response showed no ( > P0.05) differences between the treatments. However, numerically the Biopro treated group produced more large size eggs (632 vs 598) and more medium sized eggs (116 vs 93) compared to the control. Additionally, the Biopro treated group had a 0.25% mortality compared to the 1.38% for the control group. These numerical differences may ultimately have an economic difference that will influence the profitability of the enterprise.
