Unleashing the Potential of Nucleotide Supplementation on Broiler Health and Performance

The potential benefits of nucleotide supplementation may include an increase in the length of intestinal villi, promotion of nutrient absorption, enhanced weight gain (Yu, 1998), and the rapid turnover of intestinal cells (enterocytes) following damage caused by stress or pathogens. 120-day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 4 experimental groups, each consisting of six replicates of five chicks. The standard broiler diets (Con) were formulated. The ConA: Con+ antibiotic growth promoter. In the N5 and N10 treatments, the antibiotic was replaced with nucleotide @ 5 and 10 mg/L in the drinking water, respectively. The individual body weight and feed intake of the broilers were recorded weekly, and subsequently, the feed-to-gain ratio and production efficiency factor were determined. A metabolic trial was conducted at the end of the experiment to evaluate nutrient utilization. At the end of the trial (42^nd day), 02 birds from each replicate were sacrificed to assess carcass traits, nutrient composition of breast muscle, and intestinal morphology. The comprehensive performance evaluation of broilers over the six-week period indicated a significant enhancement (p<0.05) in overall performance with the N5 broiler diet. The results further demonstrated a noteworthy improvement (p<0.05) in protein digestibility among broilers fed nucleotide supplementation, particularly in the N5 group, signifying a substantial increase in protein utilization. Notably, nucleotide supplementation did not exert any discernible effect on the nutrient composition of the meat. Consequently, based on the findings of this study, it can be inferred that the supplementation of nucleotides at a concentration of 5 mg/L significantly (p<0.05) contributed to improved growth performance, enhanced intestinal morphology, and increased intestinal capacity for nutrient absorption in broilers and could be regarded as a viable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters.