Combined use of Alpha Monolaurin and Probiotics an Alternative to Antibiotic Growth Promoter in Broilers

This study evaluated the effects of a combination of alpha monolaurin (AML) and probiotics (P) as a replacement for the antibiotic growth promoter, Zinc bacitracin (ZnB), on the growth performance and gut microbiota of broilers. Two hundred forty male Cobb broilers (day-old) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments, namely: a control group supplemented with ZnB (1000 g/t) and a treatment group supplemented with AML+P (250 g/t). Each group was replicated ten (10) times with twelve (12) broilers each. The average daily gain and average feed consumption of the broilers were comparable between the two groups, but the feed conversion ratio was superior for those supplemented with AML+P than those supplemented with ZnB. Income over feed cost was higher by 3.71% for AML+P than for the ZnB supplemented broilers. Microbiota analysis of broilers’ digesta (17, 19, 24, 26, and 31 d) showed that AML+P reduced lactic acid bacteria population on day 31 and affected non-detectable population of C. perfringens at any of the measurement periods. Based on the results, AML+P was a satisfactory replacement for ZnB supplement in the broiler diet. Keywords: Gastrointestinal infections, bacitracin, broiler performance, gut health, medium-chain fatty acids, probiotics.