EFFECT OF BIOTIN AS A FEED ADDITIVE ON THE GROWTH OF BROILER

Broilers were divided in four groups, A, B, C and D fed on ration supplemented with 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 mg/kg of feed, during July-August, 2012 at SAUTandojam. Group A was considered as control. Feed consumption was 4285, 4530, 4671 and 4688 g/bird in groups A, B, C and D. The biotin was used as feed additive at the rates of 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 mg/kg feed. The biotin was supplemented at the rates of 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 mg/kg feed, respectively. Water intake was 7615, 7742, 7895 and 8039 g/bird, weight gain 2025.80, 2130.10, 2220.00 and 2350.40 g/bird, feed conversion ratio 2.115, 2.127, 2.104 and 1.994 carcass weight 1228.30, 1312.50, 1433.90 and 1512.80 g/bird, heart weight 9.50, 9.80, 10.20 and 10.40 g, gizzard weight 33.00, 34.00, 37.40 and 38.60 g and liver weight 40.30, 42.10, 43.50 and 43.80 g in groups A, B, C and D. The RBC was 2.31, 3.22, 3.66 and 4.06 (million/cm 3 ), WBC 24.77, 26.13, 28.04 (million/cm 3 ) and 27.73 and PCV 30.66, 35.66, 36.33 and 36.00 % in groups A, B, C and D. The highest biotin level of 0.30 mg/kg feed remained superior in almost all the characters studied and is suggestible for the broiler farmers to use dietary biotin at the rate of 0.30 mg/kg feed (300 μg/kg feed) for getting maximum weight gain and subsequent higher carcass quantity in broiler, followed by greater net profit.