Recent advancements in poultry farming have significantly increased the use of antibiotics for disease prevention and growth promotion, a trend that has raised urgent concerns about antibiotic resistance (AR) stemming from overuse. In contrast, probiotics and vitamin supplements commonly added to poultry feed or drinking water provide robust natural alternatives that effectively enhance poultry health and productivity without contributing to AR. This cross-sectional study, conducted between January 2020 to July 2022, thoroughly assessed the knowledge and usage patterns of antibiotics, probiotics, and vitamin supplements among poultry farmers in 25 commercial farms across Tangail District, Bangladesh.

Among the 25 broiler farms surveyed, a clear trend emerged: 72% of farmers relied solely on antibiotics, 8% used only probiotics, and 20% utilised a combination of both. Notably, among the probiotic users (n = 7), an impressive 71% employed probiotics as growth promoters, while 29% leveraged them for disease prevention. The study identified six commonly used probiotics: Biogut, Enprovin-Plus, Probios, Fra-C-12, Prozime, and Avi-Bac. Additionally, five effective vitamin supplements, Megavit, UK-GP-Plus, Vitamin AD-3-E, Eskavit AD-E, and AD-3-E-Super were frequently utilised, especially for promoting growth.

Statistical analysis demonstrated a substantial reduction in disease prevalence among probiotic users compared to their non-user counterparts. For instance, the incidence of blood dysentery was only 13.3% among probiotic users, in stark contrast to 86.7% among non-users. Similarly, Ranikhet virus infections affected 22.2% of probiotic users compared to 78.8% of non-users, while E. coli infections were reported at just 25.0% in probiotic users versus 75.0% in non-users. These compelling differences reinforce the strong association between probiotics and improved flock health in commercial poultry farming, confirming their potential as a safe, effective alternative to antibiotics. The benefits of probiotics extend beyond just disease prevention; they also enhance growth performance and improve meat quality in broilers.

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