Comparative Growth Performance of Arbor Acre and Ross Broiler Breeds under Different Lactobacillus Supplementation Levels
Abstract
The experiment was designed to verify how supplementation chickenfeed with Lactobacillus would affect the performance of Arbor Acre and Ross broilers. In total, 240-day-old chicks of both sexes were randomly allotted to four groups that had different Lactobacillus supplementation levels of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% for eight weeks, during which time all the performance parameters were measured, including initial and final body weight, total weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Results have shown that breeds are significantly different and so are the supplementation levels. The 10% Lactobacillus supplementation level proved the best, improving final body weight by 16.36%, average daily weight gain by 16.83%, and hence optimized feed conversion ratio by 17.65%. Arbor Acre always had higher initial body weight and feed intake compared to Ross breeds. Generally, the study has shown that targeted probiotic supplementation could serve as a viable alternative to antibiotic use in poultry besides determining an optimum inclusion level of Lactobacillus to enhance performance in broilers Light.
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Introduction
Broiler chicken production continues to evolve with increasing demands for efficient meat production and improved animal health (Maharjan et al., 2021). Genetic variations between breeds (like Arbor Acre and Ross), combined with nutritional interventions such as probiotic supplementation, offer potential strategies to optimize growth performance (Khomayezi & Adewole, 2022). Lactobacillus probiotics have demonstrated promising effects on gut microbiota, nutrient absorption, and immune function in poultry (Kabir, 2009).
Probiotics have emerged as a promising alternative to antibiotics in poultry production, offering potential improvements ingrowth performance and overall bird health (Jha et al., 2020). The use of Lactobacillus as a dietary supplement has garnered increasing attention due to its potential to enhance nutrient utilization, protect intestinal integrity, and stimulate animal growth (Kabir, 2009; Wu et al., 2019).
Previous studies have demonstrated varied responses to probiotic supplementation, with some researchers reporting significant improvements in broiler performance (Ramlah and Tan, 1995; Uzabaci & Yibar, 2023), while others observed inconsistent results (Blajman et al., 2014). The variability in outcomes has been attributed to factors such as probiotic strain, administration method, chicken genotype, and experimental conditions (Mountzouris et al., 2007; Patterson & Burkholder, 2003). Limited research exists on the comparative response of different broiler breeds to varying levels of Lactobacillus supplementation (Mountzouris et al., 2007). This study aims to address this knowledge gap by systematically evaluating growth parameters across two prominent broiler breeds (Arbor Acre and Ross) under controlled probiotic interventions, thus addressing the existing knowledge gaps in probiotic application in poultry production.
Conclusion
The study clearly shows the most promising role of Lactobacillus supplementation in broiler chickens and an optimum inclusion level at 10% is clearly indicated. The results have showed that there is great improvement in feed conversion ratio, weight gain, and overall growth performance, which recommend probiotics as a promising substitute for conventional antibiotics in poultry nutrition. This study forms a valuable addition to already existing knowledge regarding economic and performance benefits of targeted probiotic interventions.
While encouraging, the present findings call for additional studies concerning the exact modes of action of probiotics, longer-term effects, and possible strain-specific differences. More studies will be needed altogether to explain the overall Lactobacillus supplementation effects given under variable conditions of diet and genetics.
