Effect of Feeding Organic Acid on Growth Performance and Carcass Quality Traits in Broiler

Abstract

Present study was conducted for 6 weeks to evaluate the effect of supplementing different levels of organic acid on the growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, carcass characteristics and slaughter traits on broiler chickens. One hundred and eighty day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 400) were procured. The chicks were randomly distributed into 4 treatments with 3 replicates in each treatment on the basis of body weight. The first treatment (T1) served as control in which basal diet was offered without organic acid supplementation while in T2, T3 and T4 groups, the basal diet was supplemented with butyric acid at the rate of 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%, respectively. The initial body weight of T1, T2, T3 and T4 were found to be 39.29, 40.13, 39.64 and 39.46 gm, respectively whereas final body weight (6th wk) were observed to be 1782.37, 1857.77, 1963.20 and 2036.04 gm, respectively. Body weight was found differ significantly between the groups from 2nd to 6th week. Weekly body weight gain was found to increase significantly in 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% supplemented groups on 6th week. Overall body weight gain was found higher in T3 group than other groups. FCR was found higher in finisher phase in comparison to starter phase which means feed efficiency decreased with increasing time period. The starter FCR of T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups were recorded to be 1.66, 1.56, 1.48 and 1.51, respectively whereas finisher FCR was observed to be 2.42, 2.01, 1.90 and 1.83, respectively. 1.0% and 1.5% supplemented groups were found efficient than control in finisher and total FCR. Weekly FCE was found higher in 1.5% supplemented groups than control at 6th weeks. Shank length (cm), keel bone length (cm) and hock circumference (%) was found to be in normal range. The eviscerated yield (gm) and eviscerated yield (%) were represented to highest in T4 supplemented group whereas ready to cook yield (gm) and ready to cook yield (%) is also highest in T4 supplemented group than control. Cut-up parts i.e. thigh (%), drum stick (%), neck (%) and wing (%) were found similar in all the experimental groups whereas the breast (%) was observed lower in T3 and T4 supplemented groups than other. Digestive organ except proventricular (%) and cecal length (%) were found to differ significantly in all experimental groups whereas cecal length (%) was found lower in T3 group than control. Small intestine (%), small intestine length (%) and large intestine (%) were observed to highest in T4 supplemented group than control. The total protein (g/dl), uric acid (mg/dl) and ALT (IU/L) were found similar to control but the cholesterol (IU/L) was recorded as higher in T4 group than control. Though blood biochemical parameters and liver enzyme activity varied from control, all the values in control and supplemented groups were in normal physiological range. It was concluded that supplementation of butyric acid up to the level of 1.5% of feed improves the growth performance and feed utilization in commercial broiler without having any adverse effect on blood biochemical parameters, carcass quality and conformation traits in commercial broiler.