EFFECT OF DIRECT-FED MICROORGANISMS ON BROILER GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND LITTER AMMONIA LEVEL

Broilers were fed diets supplemented with various levels of a probiotic (mixture of the following direct-fed microorganisms: Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and Streptococcus). Growth performance, abdominal fat, excreta, and litter ammonia level were determined. The results showed that birds fed the probiotic-supplemented diets had better weight gain (p < 0.01) and feed conversion (gain:feed;p < 0.12) when compared to the birds fed the unsupplemented diet. No differences in feed intake and abdominal fat were observed among birds fed the different experimental diets. Excreta (p < 0.05) and litter (p < 0.01) ammonia levels were reduced by dietary probiotic supplementation. A dosage of 0.25 g of the probiotic/kg of diet is needed to maiximize growth performance during both the starter and finisher periods. A higher dosage (approximate 0.5 g/kg) is needed to minimize litter ammonia production.