The effect of adding pomegranate peel powder and probiotic to broiler ration on growth performance and slaughter traits

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of adding different amounts of probiotic, pomegranate peel powder and mixtures to broiler rations on performance and visceral weights. A total of 96 1-day old Ross 308 broiler chicks were used. In the study, a control and 3 treatment groups, each consisting of 24 chicks, were formed. The control group was fed with basal feed, the other groups were fed with probiotics (1.5 g/kg), pomegranate peel powder (3 g/kg), and probiotics (1.5 g/kg) + pomegranate peel powder (3 g/kg). They were fed ad-libitum with the added feeds. The trial continued for 42 days. The live weight, feed consumption and feed efficiency values of the chicks were determined by the measurements made on the feed change days. Considering the commercial broiler slaughter days, half of the animal material was slaughtered on the 35th day and the other half on the 42nd day in order to determine the carcass and visceral weights. At the end of the experiment, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of feed conversion ratio, but a significant difference was found in terms of live weight values (p<0.05). Among the internal organ weights, only liver weight showed a significant change (p<0.05). As a result, it was determined that the addition of pomegranate peel powder to the feeds had a positive effect on the live weight and body weight gain values and 3 g/kg pomegranate peel powder could be added to the broiler rations as a feed additive.