Effect of finisher diets treated with organic acids on carcass and internal organs of broiler chickens

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of different organic acids (OAs) on carcass yield and internal organ characteristics of broiler chickens. The OAs were ethanoic acid (acetic acid - AA), butanoic acid (butyric acid - BA), citric acid (CA) and methanoic acid (formic acid - FA). One hundred and fifty (150) day old AborAcre-plus chicks were used. There were five dietary treatments. Diet 1 which served as control (CON) contained no OAs, while 0.25% of AA, BA, CA and FA replaced palm kernel cake in diets 2 – 5. Each treatment was replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate, arranged in completely randomized design (CRD). Diets were both isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. The experiment lasted for 4 weeks during the finisher phase. Feed and water were given ad libitum. At the end of 4 weeks, 3 birds from each replicate giving a total of 9 birds per treatment were slaughtered for carcass and internal organ evaluation. Result from the carcass evaluation showed that dressed carcass, breast, thigh, wing and drumstick of OA treated groups were not significantly (P>0.05) different from the control. The backcut was significantly (P<0.05) heavier in control than in AA and CA. Abdominal fat in birds fed OAs was statistically similar to the control. The liver weight was significantly (P<0.05) reduced by BA and FA while the weight of spleen was reduced (P<0.05) by all the OAs. The caecum and the large intestine were significantly (P<0.05) enlarged in the control. There was non effect (P>0.05) on other internal organs.

Keywords: broiler chickens, carcass yield, organic acids, internal organ characteristics.