THE EFFECTS OF SOME PREBIOTIC PRODUCTS (ACTIGEN, BIOTRONIC TOP3) ADMINISTRATED IN THE FOOD OF BROILER CHICKENS ON THE MEAT QUALITY

Abstract

Following the 2006 EU ban of antibiotic-based growth promoters, the use of alternative products, such as prebiotics, became a necessity. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of prebiotic products (Actigen AŸi Biotronic Top3) on meat quality in broiler chickens. The research has been conducted on a number of 75 Ross-308 hybrid broilers, assigned in three groups (25 individuals/group), over a period of 42 days. Group 1(E) was fed with the base diet supplemented with the Actigen prebiotic in a proportion of 0.08% in the first growth phase (days 1-14), 0.04% in the second phase (days 14-35) and 0.02% in the third phase (days 35-42). Group 2(E) received the base feed supplemented with the Biotronic Top3 prebiotic (0.1%) throughout the whole growth period. At the end of the study period, five broilers from every group have been sacrificed to determine meat quality and meat chemical composition. The usage of prebiotics led to an increase of the carcass weight gain of 16.29% in group 1(E) receiving Actigen and 13.49% in group 2(E), fed with Biotronic Top3, compared to the control group. The percentage of superior quality meat (quality I and II) in the carcass was higher by 4.4% in group 2(E) Biotronic Top3 and by 1.67% in group 1(E) Actigen compared to the control group. Following the administration of Actigen and Biotronic Top3 prebiotics, in groups 1(E) and 2(E) the meat quality was improved in groups 1(E) and 2(E), due to an increase in the protein content and a reduction of the fat content. These results confirm that prebiotics administered in the feeds for broiler chickens have favourable effects on the meat production and meat quality.