Evaluation of a commercially available probiotic and organic acid blend product on production parameters and economics in broiler breeders

Abstract

The effects of supplementing a blend of organic acids and a lactic acid bacteria based-probiotic on production parameters of broiler breeders was examined in the present study. Nine thousand females and one thousand males Cobb 500 breeders were used in three independent trials during the years 2013, 2014 and 2015. In each trial, during 10 consecutive weeks, starting from 25 to 35 weeks of age, breeders were divided into two groups: Control group, birds receiving regular water and as Treatment group, birds receiving organic acids plus probiotic in drinking water. No significant differences (P>0.05) on body weight and uniformity in females and males were observed between treatments in any of the three trials. A significant reduction in the percentage of deformed eggs, and weekly-cumulative mortality were observed in all three trials in breeders that received the blend of organic acids and probiotic compared to control non-treated birds. During the first trial in 2013, there was a cost benefit ratio of only 1:0.75 USD, represented by 474 extra hatched chicks in favor of the treated group when compared with the control group. However, in the following trials in 2014 and 2015, breeders that received the blend of organic acids followed by the probiotic had 5,465 and 5,629 extra hatched chicks when compared with the control group. This difference in the number of hatched chicks resulted in a cost benefit ratio of 1:4.41 and 1:4.40 USD respectively, in favor of the treated broiler breeders. When converted to cost benefit ratio, the numbers of all three trials suggest that for every U.S. dollar spent on the program of organic acids plus probiotic, producers may be able to recover on average 3.19 USD. These data suggest that the combination of organic acids and a probiotic may improve production and economic parameters by increasing the number of hatching chicks.