Abstract
The effect of microencapsulated butyric acid (MEBA) on growth performance, ileal digestibility (ID) of protein, gut health and immunity was assessed in broilers. A total of 336 d-old Hubbard Classic broilers chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (Control, 0.25, 0.35 and 0.45 g/kg of MEBA). Each treatment was replicated three times with 28 birds/replicate. Feed intake, body weight gain, FCR, intestinal morphology, ID of protein and immunity was evaluated. At 35-d of age, three birds/replicate were randomly selected and slaughtered to collect blood, duodenal samples, and ileal digesta. The Improved body weight gain (P = 0.05), FCR (P less than 0.01), duodenal villous height (P less than 0.05) and ID (P less than 0.1) were observed; whereas, unresponsive treatment effect with respect to feed intake (P>0.5) and antibody titer against Newcastle disease (P>0.05) were noted. The results indicated that MEBA improves digestion and absorptive processes which consequently improved the broilers performance.
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