EVALUATION OF THE OPTIMUM LEVEL OF COMMERCIAL BLENDED ORGANIC ACIDS (BIOTRONIC® TOP FORTE) AS A REPLACEMENT FOR ANTIBIOTIC GROWTH PROMOTER ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GROWER PULLETS

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of combined organic acids and their salts (Biotronic®
Top Forte) as alternatives to the conventional antibiotics used in poultry production on the performance of growing pullets. Six hundred and nine (609) grower pullets were used for the study and were intensively managed. The pullets were randomly assigned into seven treatment groups in a complete randomized design and administered as 0,100,200,300,400,500g of Biotronic® Top Forte, oxytetracycline as positive control and defined as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 respectively. Results showed a significant (p<0.05) influence of Biotronic® Top Forte on weight gain, feed intake, feed/gain ratio, feed cost/kg gain age at 1st lay, weight of 1st egg and age at 10% lay. Birds on 500g inclusion of Biotronic® Top Forte had better weight gain (1359.83g), feed/gain ratio (3.71) and feed cost/Kg gain (₦364.92) when compared with birds on 0 inclusions, oxytetracycline and birds on other treatments. Haematological indices measured were within the normal range for healthy birds in all treatment groups. There was no mortality recorded in this study. It was concluded that Biotronic® Top Forte inclusion at 500g enhanced growth performance growing pullet from 9 weeks to 18weeks compared to birds on 0 inclusion diets, birds on oxytetracycline diets and birds on other treatments. Inclusion of of Biotronic® Top Forte at 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500g reduced the cost of production by 6.41, 8.36, 3.27, 0.00 and 12.45% respectively.