Effect of a Commercial Brand of Organic Acids on the Performance of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Biotronic SE (BSE), a commercial
brand of Bio acids on the performance of broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty
broiler chickens were assigned to four experimental diets, each with three replicates
having 20 chicks per replicate. Treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4were supplemented with 0g,
300g 400g, and 500g BSE at the starter phase (0-4 weeks) and0g, 200g 300g, and
, ,
400g BSE at the finisher phase (5-8 weeks) respectively. Treatment diets and clean
water were suppliedad libitum for the eight weeks of the experiment. Growth
parameters taken include initial weight, final weight, feed consumption, feed
conversion ratio, feed cost per kilogram and feed cost per kilogram gain for all
treatments. At the end of the finisher phase, six birds selected to represent the average
weight per replicate were used for carcass analysis and measurement of pH of
intestinal organs. All data generated were subjected to analysis of variance and
differences in mean were compared using Duncan multiple range test. From the
result of the study, birds fed diets containing 300g\100kg BSE showed significantly
(P<0.05) better performance in terms of weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed
cost per kg gain at the starter phase. However at the finisher phase birds
supplemented with 400g\100kgBSE showed best performance in terms of feed
conversion ratio and feed cost per kg gain.Significant (p<0.05) differences existed
for breast and back cut parts but with no specific trend and similarly for intestinal
length and gizzard while all the other carcass parameters were not significantly
(p>0.05) different across the treatments. The PH values for the intestinal organs
showed no significant (p>0.05) differences for crop, duodenum, jejunum and ileum.
There was however significant (p<0.05) differences for proventriculus, gizzard,
caecum, Colon and liver. It may be concluded that supplementation of broiler diets
with 300g\100kg of feed at starter phase and 400g\100kg at finisher phase improves
broiler performance and significantly reduce cost of production