Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Organic Acids on Performance, Nutrients Digestibility and Health of Broiler Chicks

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the effects of different types and levels of organic acids being Formic (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0% FA), Fumaric (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% FUA), Acetic (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75% AC) and Citric Acids (1, 2 and 3% CA). A total number of 351 one d-old Arbor-Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into 13 treatment groups, each in three replicates of 9 chicks per replicate. The first group was fed the basal diet without supplementation and served as control. While, the other groups were received the basal diet supplemented with the tested organic acids. The experiment was lasted when chicks were 42 d old. Performance, pH of some gastrointestinal tract (GI-tract) segments, organ morphology, cecal bacteria, blood metabolites and nutrients digestibility were measured. Results obtained could be summarized as follow: 1-Any of the tested organic acids increased significantly (p<0.01) body weight gain and European Production Efficiency Index compared with the control group. However, feed conversion ratio improved, but not significantly in case of formic and fumaric acids, while significantly improved with acetic and citric acids supplementation, compared to the control. No great differences in mortality rate were observed among all treatments as from 1 to 2 birds were died all over the experimental period due to natural causes and not due to nutritional treatments. 2-Dietary organic acids improved both ME and nutrients digestibility of the experimental diets compared to the control. 3-Dietary organic acids significantly reduced (p<0.01) the pH values in the different GI-tract segments of the chicks compared to chicks fed the control. 4-Feeding dietary FA and FUA led to sharp reduction in caeca content of lactobacilli bacteria, but increased number of coliforms bacteria and anaerobes was slightly increased. Feeding 0.75% AC and 2%CA increased Lactobacillus count and coliforms. Villus height was significantly higher (p<0.01) of all organic acid supplementation fed groups. 5-Blood serum content of calcium, phosphorus, total protein and globulin were increased significantly (p<0.01) by 0.5% FA, 0.5% FUA, 0.75% AC and 2%CA in the diet compared to the control. 6-Relative weights of lymphoid organs (spleen, bursa of fabrics and thymus gland) were significantly higher (p<0.01) by supplementing the tested organic acids compared to the control group. In conclusion, dietary 0.5% either of formic or fumaric as well as 0.75% acetic or 2% citric acids could be used safely to improve performance and health of broiler chickens.

Humic acid and enzymes in canola-based broiler diets: Effects on bone development, intestinal histomorphology and immune development

“…Several studies have demonstrated the importance of organic acids such as humic acid in the immune response of birds. Abdel-Fattah et al (2008), Ghazala et al (2011), andHoushmand et al (2012) observed that birds fed an organic acid-supplemented diet had heavier immune organs (bursa of Fabricius and the thymus) and a higher level of globulin in their serum, which is an indicator of immune response. Although broiler chickens in the control had some reduction in thymic volume units and the follicles of the bursa of Fabricius, this was not a manifestation of lymphocytic depletion of the thymus and bursa of Fabricius.…”

“…Increased permeability allows easier assimilation of minerals from the gut and their transfer from blood to the bone and cells, resulting in effective bone development (Stepchenko et al, 1991;Dinev, 2012). Like other organic acids, humic acid may play a significant role in the development of immune organs, particularly the bursa of Fabricius and thymus, which are the major components of the avian immune system (Abdel-Fattah et al, 2008;Ghazala et al, 2011).…”

Advances in role of organic acids in poultry nutrition: A review

“…There was significant increase in CD4 and TCR-II cells in the 0.1% Vitamin C group as compared with control and these cells participate in the immune response to the exogenous antigen, stimulating the synthesis of Interleukin-2, which activates CD8, natural killer (NK) cells and B cells. In a study by Ghazala et al (2011) birds fed an organic acid supplemented diet had heavier immune organs (bursa of Fabricius and the thymus) and higher level of globulin in their serum as well. Houshmand et al (2012) found that dietary addition of organic acids resulted in significant increases in antibody titres against Newcastle disease in broilers.…”

“…Hashemi et al (2014) added an acidifier mixture (formic, phosphoric, lactic, tartaric, citric and malic acids) in the broiler diet at the rate of 0.15% and reported increased body weight gain in organic acid supplemented group. Such a positive impact of dietary acidifiers on growth performance might be due to a reduction of pH values in the feed and digestive tract, killing the pathogenic organisms which are sensitive to low pH or selectively increasing the acid loving lactobacillus and a direct antimicrobial effect (Ghazala et al, 2011). A survey was conducted by Kim et al (2015) of 31 recent publications and compared the effects of diets on body weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency (gain to feed ratio) with those of control diets (Table 3).…”

“…In a study by Ao et al, 2009 concluded that 2% citric acid in the broiler diet increased the retention of DM, CP and neutral detergent fibre. Similarly, Ghazala et al (2011) reported that dietary 0.5% of either fumaric or formic acid and 0.75% of acetic or 2% citric acid improved crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) of broiler diets. Moreover, Hernandez et al (2006) and Garcia et al (2007) reported that supplementation of formic acid (0.5%) in broiler finisher diet improved apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of dry matter (DM) (67.8%) and CP (72.5%) as compared with control (56.4% DM and 60.7% CP).…”