The effect of using different levels of malt extract and synbiotic in water on performance, blood parameters and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens

Abstract

Introduction: This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of different
levels of barley malt extract and synbiotic in water on performance, carcass characteristics and
blood parameters of Ross 308 broiler chickens.
Materials & methods: The experiment was conducted in the form of a completely randomized
design with 5 treatments, 5 repetitions and 10 one-day-old chicks of two sexes in each
experimental unit. The experimental treatments included the control group without additives,
barley malt extract with 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% and 0.1% levels of synbiotic dissolved in water
for 42 days. Feed-intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were recorded in initial,
growth, final phase and throughout rearing period. In order to determine the characteristics of
the carcass and measurement of blood parameters, at 42 days of age, two male chickens were
selected from each experimental unit and slaughtered after weighing and blood sampling.
Results: The results showed that the addition of barley malt extract and synbiotic on feed
intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio of broiler chickens and carcass traits were not
significantly different from the control group. Also, adding 0.3% barley malt extract to
drinking water caused a significant increase in the level of triglyceride and very low‐density
lipoprotein cholesterol in the blood serum of broiler chickens compared to the control group
(p<0.05), but other levels of barley malt extract and synbiotic had no significant effect on other
blood parameters of broilers compared to control.
Conclusion: The present study showed that different levels of malt extract and synbiotic could
not significantly improve the performance index and carcass efficiency throughout the
experiment compared to the control group.