Abstract
Many alternatives are under investigation since 2006 when the European Union banned the use of antimicrobials in animal feed. The objective of this study was to find the effect of different feed additives in comparison with antibiotic on the performance and gut health in broiler infected with Salmonella during the starter phase. A total of 240 one day old male Ross 308 chickens were divided into six groups as follow: control treatment (negative control), orally challenged with Salmonella enterica subsp. Typhimurium (positive control), T1: oral challenge + 0.1 g/kg antibiotic, T2: oral challenge + 0.15 g/kg Sanguinarine, T3: oral challenge + 1 g/kg oregano powder, T4: oral challenge + calcium montmorillonite. On day second of the experiment, challenge was performed at a dose rate of 1.0 mL of the inoculum (4.5 x 10(8) CFU/mL). Data were statistically analysed with the help of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures using least significant difference (LSD) as post-hoc test. Feed consumption was significantly (p < .01) improved in both positive and negative control groups and significantly lower in the other treatment groups. Significantly (p < .01) lower body weight was found in positive control, T3 and T4. Improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded in T2 and the control groups. Production Efficiency Factor (PEF) was significantly (p < .05) lower in positive control T2 and negative control. Villus surface area did not differ significantly (p > .05) between the control and experimental groups. Significantly (p < .01) higher villus width was found in T1, T4 and negative control. Similarly, villus height was higher (p < .05) in T2 and T4 compared to the control. It was concluded from the present study that different natural feed additives produced promising results in term of improved growth traits and gut health in Salmonella infected broilers. However, Sangrovit Extra produced better results in comparison with other treatments.