Abstract
Abstract
In the poultry industry, growing concern about health risks is tightening regulations on the use of dietary antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs), raising interest in safer substitutes. The study investigated the phytogenic effects of drinking-water supplemented apple cider vinegar (ACV) and garlic extract (GAE) on broilers. The study used 390 Ross 308 broiler chicks reared in a deep litter, open house, within 2.3 m2 pen partitions. Treatments were randomly allocated in 2 (sex) x 5 (additives) factorial experiment replicated three times. Chicks started (days 1–22) on the same antibiotic starter diet, followed by grower and finisher (29–42 days) phase antibiotic-free diets plus untreated drinking water (Negative control (NC), antibiotic free diet plus ACV treated drinking water (T1), antibiotic free diet plus GAE treated drinking water (T2), antibiotic free diet plus ACV + GAE treated drinking water (T3) or antibiotic diet plus untreated drinking water (positive control (PC). Males had higher (P < 0.05) feed intake than females in both growth phases. Birds on the PC gained more (P < 0.05) weight than others. Birds on the PC consumed more feed (P < 0.05) during the finisher phase than T1, T2 and the NC. Birds on the PC had a lower (P < 0.05) grower-phase FCR than others, though with lower (P < 0.05) FCR during the finisher phase for birds on T1 and T3. Across sex, birds on the PC had the higher (P < 0.05) percent spleen weight than birds on T1. Across the sexes, birds on the PC had smaller proventriculus (P < 0.05) than on NC, T1, T2 and T3. Across the sexes, birds on the PC had lower (P < 0.05) gizzard weight than birds on the T2 and T3. Birds on the NC exhibited a lower dressing percentage (P < 0.05) than all other treatments. Meat pH was higher (P < 0.05) in males. In conclusion, in contrast to dietary antibiotics, except for increased dressing percentage, ACV and GAE did not improve broiler performance.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC