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¹ Kafkas Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, KARS
² Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Hayvan Basleme ve Beslenme Hastalıkları ABD, KARS - The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of the use of kefir, adding to drinking water in various levels, as probiotic and the effect on broiler performance. Total 148 day-old broiler were divided into 4 groups with 37 chicks in each, one control and the others trial groups. All groups were fed with same basal ration. Kefir was added to the drinking water of the experimental groups respectively 2.5 cc/lt water, 5.0 cc/lt water and 7.5 cc/lt water while the control group was received water without kefir. The study was carried out for 42 days. Final live weights were recorded as 2305 g, 2335 g, 2363 g and 2388 g for control and trial groups, respectively. At the end of the experiment, the addition of kefir to the drinking water significantly increased live weight gains (P<0.05), decreased feed consumption and feed conversion ratio were determined in trial groups. There was no difference between groups for carcass weight. However there was a significant difference between groups for dressing percentage (P<0.001). It was concluded that using kefir in broiler as probiotic can improve the growing performance. Keywords : Broiler, kefir, probiotic, feed consumption, live weight gain