Comparative response of broiler chicks to a high fibre diet supplemented with four antibiotics

The growth performance and nutrient retention of broiler chicks fed a high fibre diet supplemented with procaine penicillin, tylosin, streptomycin sulphate, or neomycin-oxytetracycline mixture was studied. A total of 150 seven-day-old broiler chicks were fed for 28 days on five experimental diets. The antibiotics were added to a high fibre (250 g kg−1 Palm Kernel Meal) basal diet, at a rate of 150 mg kg−1 of the active ingredient. The basal diet without antibiotic supplementation was the control treatment. In general chicks reared on medicated diets consumed more feed, attained heavier (P < 0.05) body weights, and had better feed efficiency (P < 0.05). The apparent retention of crude protein, ether extract and hemicellulose were superior (P < 0.05) on the antibiotic-fed groups compared with the unmedicated groups. It is concluded that growth of chicks fed a high fibre diet was improved by antibiotic supplementation.