Vilnius Broiler Farm, Lithuania, 2003

Broiler trial at Vilnius Broiler Farm, Lithuania 2003

The trial was conducted by the Lithuanian Veterinary Academy and carried out at Vilnius broiler farm with 600 Cobb broiler chickens (1 – 35 days of age). The birds were divided into 2 groups, 3*100 birds in both groups. The broilers were kept on a deep litter in separate pens, and were provided water from stationary watering containers. Both groups were fed with crumbled - pelleted feed ad libitum. The trial feed contained 0,15 % Progut^TM. The diets were typical broiler diets based on wheat and corn. The broilers were slaughtered at 35 days of age and pH measurement from duodenum, caecum and large intestine samples was performed. The number of lactic acid bacterium as well as coliformic bacteria in duodenum (duodenum), in blind bags (caecum) and in the large intestine (intestinum crassum) was measured.

The performance results of the experiment are shown in the table below. Feeds containing Progut^TM resulted in a slight improvement in production performance.

Group	Control Group	Experimental Group**
Age, d	Weight (g/broiler)
1	45.59±0.34	45.60±0.35
8	138.90±1.50	137.70±1.30
21	746.80±7.00	728.90±7.10
35	1902.66±13.60	1917.80±12.81
Feed conversion ratio (kg feed/kg weight gain)
1 - 8	1.29±0.04	1.29±0.08
9 - 12	1.44±0.01	1.44±0.01
22 - 35	1.81±0.04	1.77±0.03
1 - 35	1.62±0.03	1.61±0.02
Mortality %
1 - 8	0.67	0.33
9 - 21	1.00	0.34
22 - 35	1.34	0.67
1 - 35	3.01	1.34

THE EFFECT OF PROGUT^TM ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF BROILER CHICKENS

**PROGUT^TM 0.15%

The weight of 35-day-old broilers was 1.0 % higher and feed conversion ratio 1 % lower compared with the control group. Mortality in the trial group was 37 % lower (1,68 vs. 2,68 %) compared with the control group.Progut^TMdecreased pH (p<0,05) in caecum and large intestine (see table below).

	Control Group	Experimental Group*
	pH
Duodenum	5.29±0.15	5.58±0.19
Blind Bags	6.29±0.08	5.90±0.14**
Large intest.	6.19±0.26	5.82±0.20**

PH IN DUODENUM, CAECUM AND LARGE INTESTINE OF BROILERS

*Progut 0.15%

**Statistically significant differences (p<0.05)

The number of lactobacilli in the caecum and in large intestine in experimental group was higher and the number of coliforms lower than in the control group (see table below).

	Control Group	Experimental Group
	Lactobacilli units/g
Duodenum	0.12 10⁶ ± 0.17 10⁵	0.96 10⁵ ± 0.19 10⁵
Blind Bags	1.98 10⁶ ± 0.11 10⁶	3.01 10⁶ ± 0.18 10^6**
Large Intestine	1.67 10⁶ ± 0.78 10⁵	1.79 10⁶ ± 0.16 10^6**
Coliformic units/g
Duodenum	0.32 10⁵ ± 0.59 10⁴	1.65 10⁶ ± 0.16 10^6**
Blind Bags	53.03 10⁶ ± 4.20 10⁶	25.32 10⁶ ± 1.15 10^6**
Large Intestine	19.45 10⁶ ± 0.46 10⁶	11.79 10⁶ ± 0.30 10^6**

RESULTS FROM MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

* ProgutTM 0.15%

**Statistically significant differences (p<0.05)