Effect of Prebiotic on Broiler Performance: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

A meta-analysis of results from broiler chicken trials was conducted from several countries between 2003-2012 to demonstrate the effects of dietary prebiotic versus basal diets on feed consumption, weight gain, body weight gain and feed conversion of broiler chicken. A number of thirty seven references (peer reviewed papers) was collected to analyse by using statistical meta-analysis. Criteria for selecting studies were : 1) pen trial, 2) prebiotic dosage, 3) negative and/or positive control, 4) antibiotic inclusion, 5) replication, 6) result and discussion. Results were averaged “by treatment” using paired T-test to compare the use of dietary prebiotic on broiler performance. Compared with negative control, the final body weight and body weight gain of broiler chicken with the inclusion of prebiotic give significan effects (P<0.05) and was found to be 2.22 % and 2.83 % greater than unsupplemented. However, dietary prebiotic slight improve (P>0.05) 1.974 % feed intake and 1.153 % feed conversion. Comparisons between this present of meta-analysis and those done previously on another prebiotic trial suggest that dietary prebiotic may improve broiler performance.