EFFECTS OF 4BAC-EXTRA PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTATION LEVELS ON PERFORMANCE, EGG QUALITY, NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITYAND BLOOD PARAMETERS OF SASSO LAYING HENS

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of 4Bac-Extra Probiotic supplementation levels on performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility and biochemical profile of Sasso laying hens using One Hundred and Sixty (160) Sasso layers that were randomly assigned into four treatments with four replicates each representing T1- 0, T2- 5, T3- 10 and T4- 15% supplementation of basal feed with 4Bac-Extra probiotics. During the sixty two days (62 d) experimental period, the birds were managed on deep litter and provided with the experimental feeds and water ad libitum. The parameters measured were body weight, feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, survival percentage, nutrient digestibility, biochemical, hematological parameters and egg quality characteristics. The results obtained indicated no significant (p>0.05) effects on body weight, body weight gain, survival %, and performance index. However, Feed Intake and Feed Conversion Ratio significantly (P<0.05) differ and better in diet T2 (5%) and diet T3 (10%). Nutrient digestibility indicates a significant (P<0.05) difference between treatments with better and higher values in diet T4 for most nutrients measured. Hematological and serum biochemical showed no significant (P>0.05) difference between treatments, similarly the result obtained result obtained from internal and external egg quality indicates no significant (P<0.05) difference. The results obtained from this experiment indicate that the effects of 4-Bac Extra probiotics were only slight. However, inclusion of 5 – 10% was found to have satisfactory effects on birds.