Evaluation of probiotics and butyric acid glycerides through feed and drinking water on growth performance, carcass characteristics and gut microflora in broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted in order to study the effects of butyric acid glycerides in pelleted feed and different commercial probiotics in drinking water on performance, carcass characteristics and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens. This experiment was carried out with 240 of Ross308 chicks in a 2×4 factorial arrangement consisting 2 levels of dietary butyric acid glycerides (0 and 0.2%) and 4 different probiotics in drinking water (0, 0.012% Aqua blend, 0.012% Primalac and 0.5% sour yoghurt) with 24 experimental units and 3 replicates of 10 straight-run chicks. Dietary butyric acid glycerides had no significant effects on production performance, carcass characteristics (edible carcass, breast, thighs and abdominal fat percentages) and production index of broilers (p>0.05). Different commercial probiotics in drinking water had no significant effect on feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio and production index of broilers (p>0.05) too; however, this effect was significant for edible carcass percentage (p < 0.05) as use of Primalac and sour yoghurt increased edible carcass percentage. Interaction effects between dietary butyric acid glycerides in pelleted feed and different probiotics in drinking water on production performance, production index and carcass characteristics were not significant (p>0.05). Totally, inclusion of some probiotics in drinking water (Primalac and sour yoghurt) had positive effects on carcass characteristics but supplementation of butyric acid glycerides in pelleted feed had no significant effects on production performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens (p>0.05).