Effect of dietary supplementation of organic acids on performance of broilers fed salmonella gallinarum contaminated feed

To study the effect of supplementation of organic acid (Acifed-FS) on the performance of broiler chicks fed with Salmonella contaminated broiler feeds, day-old, Cobb broiler chicks (375) randomly distributed into five groups and offered either basal diet without S. gallinarum challenge (negative control; NC), NC challenge with Salmonella gallinarum @ 1.50x10⁶ cfu/kg (C), C supplemented with organic acids (Acifed-FS) @ 0.5kg/ton (AS1), @1 kg/ton (AS₂) and @ 1.5 kg/ton (AS₃). The average pH and Salmonella load of crop, gizzard, duodenal and caecal contents were significantly reduced (P<0.01) in AS₂ and AS₃ compared to AS₁ NC and C. Mortality rate was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in AS₁, AS₂ and AS₃ compared to NC and C The body weight of broilers at 6^th week of age was significantly higher (P<0.01) in AS₂ and AS₃ as compared to other groups. Feed conversion efficiency was better in AS₂ as compared to other groups. The ileal digestibility of nutrients and retentions of N, Ca and P were higher in AS₂ and AS₃ compared to other groups. The results indicated that supplementation of Acifed-FS @ 1% of the diet of broiler chicks significantly decreased the colonization of S. gallinarum by decreasing the pH and mortality and improved the nutrient utilization and production performance by improving gut health.