Evaluation of Bio-V-Pro^® as an Alternative Protein Source in Broiler Diets

The experiment was conducted to evaluate Bio-V-Pro as an alternative protein source in broiler diets. Treatments were control, Bio-V-Pro 1% (BP 1), Bio-V-Pro 3% (BP 3), and Bio-V-Pro 5% (BP 5). During the starter period, all treated groups showed beter performance than control group in weight gain and feed intake (p < 0.05). The best FCR was observed in BP 1 group and the worst was found in BP 5 group. For the overall period, chicks fed BP 1 and BP 3 diets gained more than the chicks fed the control and BP 5 diets. All Bio-V-Pro fed groups consumed more feed than the control group (p < 0.05). FCR were similar between the control and BP 1 group, but BP 3 and BP 5 groups showed higher FCR than the control group. During the starter period, all BP groups showed better utilizability of crude protein, crude ash and phosphorus than the control group (p < 0.05). For the finisher period, except for the BP 5 group, the nutrient utilizability was not significantly different in most nutrients. Nutrients utilizability had a tendency (not significant) to decrease as the level of Bio-V-Pro in the diet was increased. Lysine utilizability was not affected by the dietary treatment, however, methionine utilizability was higher in BP 1 and BP 3 group than in the control group. From the results of this experiment, it seems that Bio-V-Pro is a good alternative protein source which can replace fish meal in starter diet up to 3% of the diet effectively.