Responses of Broiler Chickens to Diets of Different Nutritional Planes Supplemented With or Without Organic Acids

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Scientific information on the diets of various nutritional planes supplemented with organic acids is scarce in tropical environments. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the response of broilers to diets of different nutritional planes supplemented with or without organic acids. A total of 240 one-day-old unsexed broiler chicks of the Cobb 500 strain were randomly assigned to 6 treatments, each with 4 replicates having 10 chicks. METHODS: The treatments were chickens fed an optimal diet (optimal energy and protein) (Diet 1), a medium diet (medium energy and protein) (Diet 2) and a low diet (low energy and protein) (Diet 3), while diets 4, 5 and 6 were diets 1, 2 and 3 supplemented with 4, 6 and 8 g/kg organic acid (Fysal-MP), respectively. The study was laid out in a completely randomized design. RESULTS: The birds fed diets with organic acid supplementation recorded similar (p > 0.05) final weights compared to those fed an optimal diet (T1); however, the weights were higher (p < 0.05) compared to the chickens on a low diet without organic acid (T3). The feed conversion ratio was better in birds fed diets containing organic acid, irrespective of the nutritional plane. Birds on medium diets with organic acids recorded a higher (p < 0.05) aspartate aminotransferase compared to those on low diets during the starter phase. Birds on a low diet without organic acid recorded a lower (p < 0.05) basal width compared to those on other diets. The microbial counts were reduced (p < 0.05) in broilers fed organic acids, with the lowest reduction in the group fed medium diets with 6 g/kg organic acids. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that organic acid supplementation enhanced blood parameters, carcass traits, growth performance and microbial counts in broiler chickens.