Probiotics in the Ration of Layer Birds to Reduce Human Health Hazard

Abstract: The study was conducted at Dr. Purnendu Gain Field Laboratory, Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna during 22^nd march to 22^nd may 2015. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of antibiotics and probiotics in the ration of layer hens on their performance and to formulate layer rations replacing antibiotics by probiotics. Three hundred (300) layer hens were randomly selected and divided into 5 treatment groups of 60 birds in each. Each group was further subdivided into 3 replications and the number of birds in each replication was 20. The experimental diets were fed to Hisex White hens from 42^nd week to 50^th weeks of age having five different levels of antibiotics and probiotics supplementation in the diets. Experimental groups included control T₀ (no antibiotic/probiotics), T₁ (antibiotic @20g/100kg feed), T₂ (antibiotic @40g/100kg feed), T₃ (probiotic @10g/100kg feed) and T₄ (probiotic @20g/100kg feed). The data of egg production, feed intake and number of death birds were taken daily and egg weight data were collected weekly. Data of body weight was collected fortnightly. Results of the experiment showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in daily feed intake but numerically highest feed intake was observed in T₀ (no antibiotic/ probiotics) and the lowest in T₄ (probiotic @20g/100kg feed). There were no significant variation observed in egg production percentage, body weight, egg weight, mortality and feed conversion ratio. Feed cost per egg production showed significant difference among the treatments. Feed cost for egg production was observed highest in T₀ (no antibiotic/ probiotics) and the lowest was in treatment T₄ (probiotic @20g/100kg feed). It can be concluded from the study that feed intake, feed conversion ratio, body weight, average egg production, average egg weight were almost similar for all treatment groups. However, significantly lowest feed cost per egg production was observed in layer hens fed probiotics at the rate of 20g/100kg. Therefore, probiotics may be supplemented to layer ration @20g/100kg feed for lower egg production cost.

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