Provision of natural antibiotics in drinking water on the performance and number of microbes in broiler cecum

This study aimed to determine the effect of natural antibiotics in drinking water on the total microbial population and performance in the cecum of broiler chickens. The material used was 96 broiler chickens of strain CP 707 from PT Charoen Pokphand Jaya. The experimental design used was a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 4 treatments and 6 replications. Statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's Multiple Range Test. The treatments tested were: T0: without natural antibiotics; T1: 5 mL of natural antibiotics per liter of drinking water; T2: 10 mL of natural antibiotics per liter of drinking water; and T3: 15 mL of natural antibiotics per liter of drinking water. The parameters studied were performance (consumption, body weight, and conversion) and total microbes in broiler cecum. The results showed that the treatment had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on performance but had an effect on the total amount of bacteria present in the cecum. It was concluded that the administration of natural antibiotics in drinking water caused the total bacteria present in the cecum to decrease so that it could improve the performance of broiler chickens, although there were no significant differences in consumption, final body weight, or conversion.