Does the Consumption of Acidified Drinking Water Affect Growth Performance and Lymphoid Organs of Broilers?

Hany M. S. Al-Mutairi, Elsayed O. S. Hussein, Abdul Rahman Jar El Nabi, Ayman A. Swelum, Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack, Ayman E. Taha and Saud I. Al-Mufarrej
Additional contact information
Hany M. S. Al-Mutairi: Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460 Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Elsayed O. S. Hussein: Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460 Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Abdul Rahman Jar El Nabi: Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460 Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Ayman A. Swelum: Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460 Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack: Department of Poultry, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
Ayman E. Taha: Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Edfina 22758, Egypt
Saud I. Al-Mufarrej: Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460 Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-9

Abstract: This study was conducted to compare the effects of single and synergistic organic acids (formic (F) and butyric (B) acids) on the performance and lymphoid organs of broiler chicks. In total, 450 one-day-old ISA JA57 chicks were assigned randomly to nine groups, each of five replicates (10 chicks/replicate): The control group, without added acids; groups 2 and 3, with 0.2% and 0.3% formic acid, respectively; groups 4 and 5, with 0.2% and 0.3% butyric acid, respectively; group 6, with 0.2% formic acid and 0.3% butyric acid; group 7, with 0.2% butyric acid and 0.3% formic acid; groups 8 and 9, with 0.2% butyric and formic acids and 0.3% butyric and formic acids, respectively. The control group received tap water, and other treatment groups received acidified drinking water, as previously described. The results indicated that treatment resulted in a significantly higher ( p < 0.05) average live weight and weight gain at four weeks of age than in the control group. Nevertheless, group 7 showed significant decreases in the feed conversion ratio compared with the other treatments between four and five weeks of age. The carcass percentage was highest when B3, F3B2, and B2 were added to the drinking water, whereas control and F2B3 showed lower carcass percentage than the other treatments. At 42 days of age, the addition of organic acids to the drinking water of broilers had significant effects on the bursa of Fabricius and thymus percentages, but no effect on the spleen percentage. Water acidification by F and B alone and in combination did not affect poultry performance. However, it improved the lymphoid organ weight, indicating improved immunity and carcass percentage at 42 days of age.

Keywords: formic acid; butyric acid; poultry performance; lymphoid organs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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