Effect of some antibiotics as growth promoters on performance of broiler chicks fed different protein levels

Abstract

This work was carried out to study the effect of different sources of dietary antibiotics (Zinc bacitracin, Flavomycin, Virginiamycin) in rations with optimal protein levels (starter phase: 23.5%, finisher phase: 20.0%) and low protein levels (starter phase: 19.6%, finisher phase: 17.0%) on broiler performance with 8 groups of 75 broiler each. The supplement of diets, containing the optimal and low protein level, with antibiotics increased the body weight after 7 weeks of age and improved the feed conversion as compared with control groups. Virginiamycin was superior in increasing body weights after 7 weeks of age and in improving the feed conversion with rations containing low protein level when compared with zinc bacitracin and Flavomycin. When broiler rations, low in the protein content, were supplemented with antibiotics, they could not substitute the difference in optimal protein level. Antibiotics supplementation increased the value of improvement in production efficiency and this was more pronounced with Virginiamycin.