Effect of bovine colostrum supplemented diets on performance of broiler chicken

A growth trial was carried out to study the effect of incorporating bovine colostrum as feed additive in the broiler chicken diets. A total of 192, three days old commercial broiler chicks were randomly distributed into four treatment groups with 4 replicates of 12 birds each and reared for a period of 35 days on deep litter using saw dust as litter material. The control group (T1) was offered normal broiler pre-starter and starter rations without any additive while as the groups T2, T3, and T4 were fed rations supplemented with 1, 1.5 and 2% bovine colostrum/kg feed, respectively. The results indicated that weekly body weights and body weight gains were higher and FCR was lower in the groups offered bovine colostrum supplemented rations. The highest body weight gain and lowest FCR was recorded in the group offered diets supplemented with 2% bovine colostrum/Kg of feed. There was no significant effect on feed consumption. It was therefore concluded that bovine colostrum could be incorporated in broiler diets @ 2% for better body weight and lower FCR.