Use of Natural Insoluble Fiber in Oat Hulls (Avena sativa) as Non-Antibiotic Growth Promoter in Broilers

Abstract

Experiment was conducted to study effect of natural insoluble fiber in oat hulls as non-antibiotic growth promoter in 180 Cobb-400Y broiler chicks. They were randomly divided into six groups viz., A to F. Each group was further subdivided into two replicates. Groups A and B received corn-soybean based diet with and without antibiotic growth promoter (AGP), respectively. Groups C and D received diet with 2% oat hulls with and without AGP, respectively. Groups E and F received diet with 2% oat hulls with 100 Kcal reduction in ME and 2.5% reduction in CP with and without AGP, respectively. Group A recorded the highest live weight and gain in weight. The highest feed consumption was recorded by group B. The differences in FCR recorded by different groups were statistically non-significant. The differences in intestinal total viable count and coliform count of birds from different groups were statistically non-significant. Group A recorded the highest net profit per kg. Hence, it is concluded that inclusion of oat hulls results in better production performance and it could be a new area of research to replace AGPs in broiler diet.