Organic acids for broilers: Effects on intestinal morphology and growth performance

Background: Organic acids and ammonium salts added to drinking water can optimize productivity of broiler chickens. Objective: To evaluate the effect acidifying on productive performance, blood intestinal pH, morphology broilers. Methods: 1,400 one-day-old chicks were used two pH levels (4 6) during three periods (1-21, 1-28, 1-42 days age). The treatments consisted with a blend formic acid (31%), propionic (19%), their formate (26%), propionate (6%) compared control group (pH 8). Results: Compared control, groups consuming at 6 (0.038 moles) continuously for 42 improved (p≤0.01) live weight (2.785 vs 2.691 kg), feed conversion ratio (1.430 1.463 kg/kg), increased number villi (59.0 55.7). Additionally, was reduced (7.75 7.89; 6.32 6.41, respectively). Conclusion: in complete production cycle broilers improves increases villi, reduces blood, duodenum, ileum.