Organic feed additive Alpha-Bio+ as an alternative to chemical antibiotics: Effect on zootechnical performance and coccidial burden in laying hens Lohmann Brown

The excessive and uncontrolled use of synthetic antibiotics in poultry farms promotes the emergence of resistant germs, leading to health problems, reduced performance and increased mortality, which results in significant economic losses. This study aims to reduce the use of these antibiotics by proposing natural therapeutic alternatives. More specifically, it aims to evaluate the effect of the organic feed additive Alpha-Bio+ as alternative to chemical antibiotics on zootechnical performance and coccidial load. The study, conducted on 600 Lohmann Brown chicks at Nangui Abrogoua University, compared a control batch (conventional veterinary prophylaxis) with an experimental batch treated with the organic feed additive Alpha-Bio+ as a substitute for antibiotics. All subjects were raised under identical conditions. The evaluated parameters included feed intake (FI), body weight, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality, and parasitic load. The results showed a slight improvement in body weight and ADG in the experimental batch. Furthermore, this batch recorded a significantly better FCR at the end of the rearing period, along with a markedly lower parasitic load, with no observed reinfection, unlike the control batch. Alpha-Bio+ thus proved to be an effective alternative to conventional veterinary treatments, improving both zootechnical performance and digestive health in pullets.