EFFECTS OF PHYTASE AND PROBIOTICS ON ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION FOR BROILER FINISHER CHICKENS

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of commercial exogenous probiotics (flavagen) and phytase (megazyme) on the economics of production for broiler finisher chicken. The feeding trials of broiler finisher chicken was supplemented with phytase and probiotics. Two hundred and forty (240) day old Arbor Acres broiler finisher chickens were allotted at random to 6 dietary treatments, each with four (4) replicate pens of 40 birds laid in a Completely Randomized Design in a factorial arrangement. Treatment 1 (T1) (control) had 0.00% phytase/probiotics, T2 had 0.03% probiotics, T3 had 0.05% probiotics, T4 had 0.05% phytase, T5 had 0.03% probiotics/0.05% phytase and T6 had 0.05% probiotics/phytase respectively. The economics of production indicated non-significant variation on the main of phytase and probiotics but their interaction showed reduction in the cost of feed, there were corresponding increase in cost saved, net income, net income ratio and return in naira invested for finisher chicken.