Abstract
The effects of feeding a mannan oligosaccharide (Bio-Mos) from 0 to 3 g/kg diet and vaccination program on 1- to 35-day performance (growth and feed efficiency), metabolizable energy, nitrogen utilization and carcass composition of meat chickens were investigated. A general vaccination program was used against IB, IBD and ND with half of the birds per diet receiving a booster dose of IB and ND vaccines at 12 days of age. Dietary supplementation of Bio-Mos (BM) did not influence body weight gain, feed efficiency and nutrient utilization. The highest dietary BM (3 versus 1.5 or 0 g/kg) increased carcass abdominal fat and reduced the proportion of drumstick in the carcass of meat chickens. The booster dose reduced the performance of birds. It was concluded that the addition of BM to the diet of chickens did not significantly influence the performance and nutrient utilization of meat chickens.