Use of organic acid, herbs and their combination to improve the utilization of commercial low protein broiler diets
Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to investigate the growth performance, carcass characteristics, organ weights, plasma proteins and fecal N excretion in broilers fed a 18% crude protein diet supplemented with Thymus vulgaris, Curcuma Ionga, citric acid, lactic acid or their combinations. In the first experiment, 98 broiler chicks were fed a control diet or a control diet with 0.2% Thyme (TH), 0.2% Curcuma Ionga (CL), 0.2% Citric acid (ClT, 0.2% TH + 0.2% CL, 0.2% TH + 0.2% CIT, 0.2% CL + 0.2% CIT. In the second experiment, 98 broiler chicks were fed a control diet with 0.2% TH, 0.2% lactic acid (LAC), 0.2% CIT, 0.2% TH + 0.2% LAC, 0.2% TH + 0.2% CIT, 0; 1 % LAC + 0.1 % CIT. Addition of 0.2% TH, or TH + CIT increased weight gain in 21 day old birds in experiment 1 (p<0.05). Addition of supplements did not produce any significant increase in day 42 body weight. No significant effect of supplements on carcass characteristics, feed conversion, plasma proteins or organ weights were observed except for liver which was higher in birds fed CIT (experiment 1) (p<0.05). No difference was observed in the total protein, albumen or globulin in the plasma. No difference was noticed between dietary treatments on the percentage of fecal Nitrogen (N), AME or Nitrogen retention '(NR). Although not significant, the birds fed TH + CL excreted 12.9% less fecal N than Control birds. Similarly, the NR was 13.25% higher in TH + Cl when compared with Control birds. Considering the role of low protein diets in reducing feed cost and fecal N excretion, further studies are needed to evaluate the role of plant extracts and organic acids and their optimal levels for broiler birds fed a low protein diet that are raised under sub optimal commercial conditions.
Key words: Organic acid, herbs, and broilers
Publication year 2009
Pages 14-20
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
serial title International Journal of Poultry Science
ISSN 1682-8356
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    جيتا شريان ولاية اورجون- الولايات المتحدة
Agris Categories Animal feeding
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Blood proteins. Broiler chickens. Carcass composition. Herbaceous plants. Organic acids. Performance testing. Protein restricted diets. Uses.
Publication Type Journal
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