Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Organic Acids on Digestibility of Nutrients and Serum Biochemical Profile of Broiler Chicken

The digestibility of nutrients and serum biochemical parameters were studied in broilers fed diet supplemented with different organic acid combinations. Two hundred and seventy, day-old, straight run commercial broiler chicks were distributed randomly into six treatments with three replicates of fifteen birds each and fed the experimental diets from 0 to 42 days of age. Broiler pre-starter (Maize-56.5, soybean meal-30, fish meal-10, vegetable oil-1.0 and mineral mixture-2.5 kg/100 kg feed), starter (Maize-58.5, soybean meal-28, fish meal-10, vegetable oil-1.5 and mineral mixture-2.0 kg/100 kg feed) and finisher (Maize-63.5, soybean meal-23, fish meal-10, vegetable oil-1.0 and mineral mixture-2.5 kg/100 kg feed) basal diets were prepared based on their nutrient requirements (ICAR, 2013). Six experimental diets, T₁ (basal diet), T₂ (basal diet + furazolidone @ 50 g/100 kg feed), T₃ (basal diet + 20: 40: 40 combination of citric, formic and propionic acids @ 1.5 g/100 g of feed), T₄ (basal diet+30: 40: 30 combination of citric, formic and propionic acids @ 1g/100 g feed), T₅ (basal diet + 30: 30: 40 combination of citric, formic and propionic acids @ 1g/100 g feed), T₆ (basal diet + 10: 45: 45 combination of citric, formic and propionic acids @ 1.5 g/100 g feed) were prepared. Digestibility of nutrients and serum biochemical parameters were studied during two phases i.e. at the end of 4^th and 6^th week. Digestibility of DM, CP and EE increased significantly (P<0.05) in organic acid supplemented groups (T₃ to T₆) compared to T₁ and T₂ during both stages of the experiment but no significant difference was observed in ME values and CF digestibility. Significantly (P<0.01) higher serum total protein, albumin, globulin and calcium levels were recorded in organic acid supplemented groups in both the phases. Serum cholesterol levels decreased (P<0.01) in organic acid supplemented groups (T₃ to T₆) compared to T₁ and T₂.