Effect Of Graded Levels Of Dietary Penicillin On The Growth Rate And Feed Conversion Of Broiler Chicks

One hundred , 4 – week old Anak broiler chicks were used in an experiment to evaluate the effect of graded levels of dietary penicillin on the growth rate and feed conversion of broiler chicks. The birds were randomly assigned to five treatment diets in a Completely Randomized Design [CRD] and each treatment group was further sub – divided into four replicates . The chicks were fed ad-libitum with five formulated broiler finisher diets supplemented with dietary penicillin at levels of 0ppm,50ppm, 100ppm, 150ppm, and 200ppm representing treatments 1,2,3,4 and 5 respectively. Performance criteria were feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Results showed that in all the measurements, broiler fed on 50ppm, 100ppm and 150ppm penicillin supplemental levels performed significantly. (P < 0.05) better than those fed on 0ppm, and 200ppm inclusion levels. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in the weight gain and feed conversion ratio among the birds fed T1 and T5 diets. The result of this experiment demonstrated that inclusion of penicillin in broiler diets enhanced growth rate and feed conversion of the birds and that penicillin could be supplemented in broiler diets at up to 150ppm levels. Journal of Agriculture and Social Research Vol. 4 (2) 2004: 25-32