Sustainable Poultry Nutrition Using Citric Acid By-Products from Rice to Boost Growth and Carcass Yield in Thai KKU 1 Broiler Chickens

Abstract

This research aimed to enhance the diet of Thai broiler chickens (KKU 1) by assessing the impact of CABR on growth performance, carcass yield, and meat composition. A total of 320 one-day-old mixed-sex (1:1) Thai KKU 1 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments incorporating CABR at levels of 0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%. The chicks were fed for a period of 56 days, divided into three phases: 1–21, 22–49, and 50–56 days. In the grower phase, birds receiving 3% and 6% CABR displayed the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to other groups, while their body weight (BW) and BW gain (BWG) were significantly higher than those of other treatments (p < 0.05). In the finisher phase, performance differences were minimal, except for birds on the 3% CABR diet, which had greater BW than those on 9% or 12% CABR diets. Overall, throughout all phases, the inclusion of 3% CABR resulted in improved BWG and FCR compared to other groups across the study period (p < 0.05). Additionally, the 12% CABR treatment reduced dressing percentage compared to other groups, but it did not negatively impact the relative organ weights of the carcass or the quality of breast meat. Incorporating 3% and 12% CABR resulted in the highest values recorded for gross energy and ether extract in breast meat (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the gross energy of thigh meat increased with 3% to 12% CABR inclusion, peaking at the 6% CABR treatment (p < 0.05). This study found that adding 3% or 6% CABR to the diet of Thai broiler chickens improves their growth without negatively impacting meat or carcass quality.