Effect of organic acid treated diets on growth, apparent nutrient digestibility and faecal moisture of broiler chickens

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of four organic acids (acetic, butyric, citric and formic acids) inclusion in the diets of broilers on growth, nutrient digestibility and faecal moisture. One hundred and fifty one day old Arbor-Acre - plus chicks were used. There were five dietary treatments. Basal diet which served as control contained no organic acid was formulated, while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively contained 0.25% acetic, butyric, citric and formic acids formed by adding 0.25% of each acid to the basal diet. Each treatment was replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate, arranged in completely randomized design (CRD). Diets were both isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The experiment lasted for 4 from the fourth to the eight week. Feed and water were given ad libitum. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in live weight, daily gain, feed intake, feed: gain ratio and protein efficiency ratio. Acetic acid significantly (P<0.05) increased water intake. Fecal moisture was significantly reduced by citric and butyric acids. Higher crude protein digestibility was achieved by butyric acid (69.98%) citric (69.67%) and formic acid (71.33%) than the control (63.75%). Digestibility of CF, EE and ash was significantly (P<0.05) higher in all the organic acid groups. Feeding of diets treated with 0.25% of the test organic acids at the finisher phase, in that despite improved digestibility of nutrients the practice should not be encouraged for reasons of insignificant growth performance.