Effect of organic acid supplementation through drinking water on growth performance and feed efficiency of broiler Chickens

Abstract:

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic acid supplementation through drinking water on carcass characteristics and feed efficiency of broiler chickens as a potential alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. A total of 120 day-old commercial broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four treatment groups with three replicates of ten birds each for a period of 28 days. The treatment groups consisted of T1 (control, tap water), T2 (0.2% citric acid), T3 (0.2% acetic acid), and T4 (0.1% citric acid + 0.1% acetic acid). Birds were maintained under uniform management conditions with ad libitum access to feed and water. At the end of the experiment, carcass traits, carcass cut-up parts, giblet yield, visceral organ weights, external offal, and feed efficiency were evaluated using standard procedures. Supplementation of organic acids did not significantly (p >0.05) influence dressing percentage, eviscerated yield, carcass cut-up parts, giblet weights, or external offal characteristics compared with the control. However, birds receiving the combined supplementation of citric and acetic acids (T4) exhibited a significantly (p <0.05) lower intestinal weight, indicating improved gastrointestinal efficiency without adversely affecting other visceral organs. Overall, the use of organic acids through drinking water maintained normal carcass characteristics while supporting gut health and feed utilization. The findings suggest that citric acid, acetic acid, and their combination can serve as safe and effective alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler production, contributing to sustainable poultry farming and improved production efficiency.