Bark charcoal powder containing wood vinegar liquid can shorten the time to shipping of broilers raised in tropical areas by activating performance and intestinal function

Abstract

The effect of dietary bark charcoal containing vinegar liquid (BCV) on the growth performance, carcass and visceral organs, intestinal histology, fecal ammonia nitrogen, and nutrient digestibility were investigated in a total of 350 one-day-old unsexed Ross 308 broilers raised under a high environmental temperature (heat stress) from 0 to 42 d of age. They were divided into 0% (control group), 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% dietary BCV groups. Compared with the control group, the body weight gain (BWG) of the 1% dietary BCV group at 21–42 d of age and the feed efficiency of the 2% dietary BCV group at 0–42 d of age increased (P < 0.05). The carcasses of the 1% and 3% dietary BCV groups significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The digestibility of dry matter and gross energy of the 4% dietary BCV group improved at 21 d (P < 0.05). The duodenum of the 3% and 4% dietary BCV groups was significantly heavier than those in the control groups (P < 0.05). This result suggests that BCV can shorten the time to shipping date for broilers to before 42 d of age and can contribute to the development of poultry production in tropical regions.