Improving Efficiency of Growth and Nutrient Utilization in Heavy Broilers Using Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters

1. Evaluation of antimicrobial alternatives through dietary inclusion and in-ovo administration on growth performance and production efficiency. 1.1. Determination of the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of antimicrobial alternatives in broiler diets with or without antibiotic growth promoters (AGP). 1.2. Evaluation of in ovo injection of antimicrobial alternatives. 1.3. Evaluation of antimicrobial alternatives on broiler gut histology and gut microbiome. 2. Effect of alternative diets on early gut development in broilers raised with and without AGP. 2.1. Determination of the AME and amino acid (AA) digestibility of alternative protein supplements used in broiler diets. 2.2. Evaluation of live performance, carcass characteristics, and gut histology of broilers when fed alternative diets with or without when challenged with a coccidiosis vaccine.