The effect of fat-coated organic acid salts and a feed enzyme on growth performance, nutrient utilization, microflora activity, and morphology of the small intestine in broiler chickens

S Smulikowska,A Mieczkowska,J Jankowiak,J Czerwiński

doi:10.22358/jafs/66422/2009

Abstract

1. The Role of Coated Sodium Butyrate on Performance of Broilers Fed High Protein and Reduced Energy Diets S.A. M'Sadeq, R.A. Swick, M. Choct, S-B Wu Journal of Applied Animal Nutrition CrossRef

Highlights

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) act as bioregulators and gut growth promoters in nonruminants (Mroz et al, 2006)
The objective of the study was to determine the effects of dietary administration of two fat-coated organic acid preparations and feed enzyme on small intestinal morphology in the early phase of growth, on performance and nutrient utilization and SCFA concentration in caecal digesta of broiler chickens
The bacterial counts and fermentation efficacy are very low in first week of a chicken’s life, so it may be hypothesized that the increase in luminal SCFA concentration can be essential for accelerated development of distal parts of the gastrointestinal tract

Summary

Introduction

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) act as bioregulators and gut growth promoters in nonruminants (Mroz et al, 2006). Butyrate appears to play a role in the development of intestinal epithelium of rats, pigs (Mroz et al, 2006) and chickens (Hu and Guo, 2007). Propionate and butyrate levels are quite low in the distal small intestine and caecum of broiler chicks in first days of life, increase and reach a plateau by approximately 15 d of age (van der Wielen et al, 2000). Supplementing broiler diets with SCFA is considered a potential alternative for feed antibiotics and can precipitate the development of intestinal epithelium.

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