Evaluación de un coctel de bacteriófagos liofilizados como promotores de crecimiento en pollos de engorde

Abstract

The poultry sector comprises one of the largest and most important agribusinesses in the world agricultural sector; as in all production, it faces, among others, the problems of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. At present, measures are being adopted to face this growing problem; one alternative is the reduction of the use of antibiotics as growth promoters, being the use of bacteriophages a good option. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lyophilized bacteriophage cocktails as growth promoters in broilers on productive parameters and intestinal morphometry. A total of 288 Cobb 500 chicks randomly distributed in four treatments were used: T1, Base diet plus placebo (Gelatin and Skim Milk), T2, Base diet plus bacteriophages in Skim Milk vehicle, T3, Base diet plus bacteriophages in Gelatin vehicle and T4, Base diet plus bacteriophages in Skim Milk and Gelatin vehicle. Feed consumption, body weight, feed conversion rate, mortality and intestinal morphometry were evaluated at the end of the rearing period. Bacteriophages were administered orally twice a week at a concentration of 1x104 PFU/ml. The study lasted 49 days. The application of bacteriophages in T2 and T4 showed better weights at 49 days, feed consumption at 21 days and weight gain at 49 days was higher for T4, there was no statistical significance between treatments for weight gain, however, the feed conversion rate was better for the groups where bacteriophages were applied T2, T3 and T4. In terms of mortality, gizzard and proventriculus weight and intestinal morphometry, there was no significance between treatments. In conclusion, the administration of bacteriophages is a good alternative to improve productive parameters in broiler breeding.