Author:
Serrano-Gamboa Magda Y,Arce-Menocal José,Ávila-González Ernesto,López-Coello Carlos,Garibay-Torres Luis,Herrera-Camacho José
Abstract
Background: Organic acids and ammonium salts added to drinking water can optimize productivity of broiler chickens. Objective: To evaluate the effect of acidifying drinking water on productive performance, blood and intestinal pH, and intestinal morphology of broilers. Methods: 1,400 one-day-old broiler chicks were used to evaluate two pH levels (4 and 6) of drinking water during three periods (1-21, 1-28, and 1-42 days of age). The treatments consisted of water added with a blend of formic acid (31%), propionic acid (19%), and their salts ammonium formate (26%), and ammonium propionate (6%) compared to a control group (pH 8). Results: Compared to the control, the groups consuming water at pH 6 (0.038 moles) continuously for 42 days improved (p≤0.01) live weight (2.785 vs 2.691 kg), feed conversion ratio (1.430 vs 1.463 kg/kg), and increased the number of intestinal villi (59.0 vs 55.7). Additionally, blood and intestinal pH was reduced vs the control group (7.75 vs 7.89; 6.32 vs 6.41, respectively). Conclusion: The blend of formic and propionic acids and their ammonium salts in drinking water at pH 6 during the complete production cycle of broilers improves performance, increases the number of intestinal villi, and reduces the pH of blood, duodenum, and ileum.
Subject
General Veterinary,Animal Science and Zoology
Cited by
2 articles.
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