Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different administration methods of effective microorganisms (EM^®) on the performance and serum cholesterol level of broilers at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. Uniform weight of mixed sex day-old-broilers of cobb-500 strain (n = 240) were randomly distributed to 4 treatment groups with 3 replications of 20. They were kept under a standard management condition for 49 days being subjected to treatment rations since Day 10 on.  Performance parameters were recorded and analyzed. Total blood cholesterol was analyzed with standard kit at the end.   The result showed that there was no significant difference of EM administration methods (p < 0.05) on mortality of chickens during the starter (1 to 29 days) and finisher (30 to 49 days) phases. Feed consumption was found to be significantly higher for Treatment 4 (Bokashi in feed + EM in water) than the rest of the treatment groups.  Weight gain was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for Treatment 4 (Bokashi +EM in water), during the entire period than the rest of the treatment groups. Birds fed with T4 (Bokashi +EM in water) required less feed for a unit increase in weight during the starter and finisher phase. Birds fed with T3 (Non Bokashi +EM in water) required the highest feed for a unit increase in weight.  EM application in all forms has resulted in significantly lower (p < 0.05) total blood cholesterol, EM application both in feed and water combined being most effective in lowering the total blood cholesterol than the other application methods.

Key words: Bokashi, broiler, performance, application, feed conversion ratio, mortality.