Effect of a commercial brand of organic acids on the performance of broiler chickens

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Biotronic^®SE (BSE), a commercial brand of Bio acids on the performance of   broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty broiler chickens were assigned to four experimental diets, each with three replicates  having 20 chicks per replicate. Treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4were supplemented with 0g, 300g 400g, and 500g BSE at the starter   phase (0-4 weeks) and0g, 200g 300g, and 400g BSE at the finisher phase (5-8 weeks) respectively. Treatment diets and clean water were suppliedad libitum for the eight weeks of the experiment. Growth  parameters taken include initial weight, final weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, feed cost per kilogram and feed cost per kilogram gain for all treatments. At the end of the finisher phase, six birds selected to represent the  average weight per replicate were used for carcass analysis and  measurement of pH of intestinal organs. All data generated were subjected to analysis of variance and differences in mean were  compared using Duncan multiple range test. From the result of the study, birds fed diets containing 300g\100kg BSE showed   significantly (P<0.05) better performance in terms of weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed cost per kg gain at the starter  phase. However at the finisher phase birds supplemented with 400g\100kgBSE showed best performance in terms of feed  conversion ratio and feed cost per kg gain.Significant (p<0.05) differences existed for breast and back cut parts but with no   specific trend and similarly for intestinal length and gizzard while all the other carcass parameters were not significantly (p>0.05) different across the treatments. The PH values for the intestinal organs showed no significant (p>0.05) differences for crop,   duodenum, jejunum and ileum. There was however significant (p<0.05) differences for proventriculus, gizzard, caecum, Colon and liver. It may be concluded that supplementation of broiler diets with 300g\100kg of feed at starter phase and 400g\100kg at finisher phase improves broiler performance and significantly reduce cost of production.

Keywords: Broiler chickens, Biotronic®SE, growth, intestinal pH