Agrifood Research Center, Finland, 2002

Broiler trial at Agrifood Research Center in Finland, 2002

At the beginning of the trial 3900 Ross 508 chickens were divided into 48 pens, cocks and hens separately. The trial design was 2*2*2*2 factorial and the factors were; sex, vaccination vs. coccidiostat, Progut^TM0 vs. 0,2 % and corn-based vs. wheat-based starter diet. Feeds were wheat or corn based, containing also barley, soya, vegetable oil, amino acids, minerals and premixes. All the diets contained Avizyme and Betafin. Starter feeds were given until day 10 and after that birds were fed with grower feeds. Birds were weighed by pen at the beginning of the trial, on day 10, 21 and also at the end of the trial. Feed consumption was measured per pen.

Results

The crude protein content of the corn based starter feed with Progut^TM was lower than in other starter feeds (25,4% vs. 26,8%). That may have had an effect on the results. In other feeds the analyzed feed composition didn't differ from the calculated. Feeds containing Progut^TMsignificantly improved (p<0,05) the growth of broilers during the growing period and during the whole trial period (see table below). Progut^TM also improved the growth of birds fed with wheat-based starter feeds during the starter period. It may have happened also with corn-based starter feed without differences in the crude protein content. Vaccination or the raw material basis in starter feed didn't have effect on growth. It seemed that cocks were generally growing better than hens.

Vaccination, Progut^TM or the raw material composition of starter feed didn't effect on feed conversion ratio during the whole trial period. Feeds containing Progut^TM tended to improve feed conversion ratio in vaccinated birds after starter feed period. The same was not seen with coccidiostat feeds.

	Progut +	Progut -	P
Weight, g:
- Day 1	38	38
- Day 10	2459	239
- Day 21	871	859
- Day 36	2189	2146	0.023

Feed per gain kg/kg:
1 - 10 days (per kg live weight)	1.09	1.05	0.004
11 -21 days	1.4	1.42	0.07
22 - 36 days	1.75	1.76	0.42
1 - 36 days	1.57	1.58	0.27
Feed kg/kg carcass weight	2.22	2.25	0.121

Mortality, % 1 - 36 days	4.5	5.9

THE EFFECT OF PROGUT^TM ON BROILER PERFORMANCE

*) Crude protein in starter feeds different than calculated

Wheat-based starter feed increased gut viscosity on day 9 in comparison with corn-based starter feed. Other treatments didn't have effect on gut viscosity. Progut^TM feeds increased the share of breast meat from live weight of vaccinated birds. Litter dry matter didn't differ significantly among the treatments. It seems that Progut had bigger effect on growth and feed conversion with vaccinated birds (see table below).

	Coccidiostat		Vaccination
Averages	Progut +	Progut -	Progut +	Progut -
Weight, g:
- Day 1	38	38	38	38
- Day 10	251	239	230	239
- Day 36	2185	2154	2192	2139

Feed per gain, kg/kg
1 - 10 days	1.04	1.05	1.14	1.07
1 - 36 days	1.57	1.57	1.56	1.58
Feed kg/kg carcass weight:	2.22	2.23	2.22	2.27

Mortality, % 1 - 36 days	4.8	5.4	4.2	6.4

THE EFFECT OF PROGUT^TM ON THE PERFOMANCE OF VACCINATED OR COCCIDIOSTAT FED BROILERS

* Crude protein content of the corn based starter feed with Progut was lower than in other starter feeds (25,4% vs. 26,8%).