Animals (Jul 2024)

Effects of Mixed Organic Acids and Essential Oils in Drinking Water on Growth Performance, Intestinal Digestive Capacity, and Immune Status in Broiler Chickens

  • Yuanyang Dong,
  • Xulong Gao,
  • Chenqi Qiao,
  • Miaomiao Han,
  • Zhiqiang Miao,
  • Ci Liu,
  • Lei Yan,
  • Jianhui Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14152160
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 15
p. 2160

Abstract

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In order to evaluate the effects of acidifiers and essential oils in drinking water on growth, intestinal digestive capacity, and immune status in broilers, a total of 480, 1-day-old Arbore Acres broilers were randomly assigned to four treatments including normal tap water (Ctr) and tap water supplemented with acidifier I (ACI), acidifier I and essential oils (ACI+EO), and acidifier II (ACII). Both ACI+EO and ACII increased final body weight. The pH value of the crop and gizzards was reduced by ACI+EO, and ACII decreased the pH values of the proventriculus and gizzards (p p E. coli in excreta, while ACII significantly decreased Salmonella in excreta (p Lactobacillus in excreta. In conclusion, ACI+EO improved immune status and ACII was effective in reducing Salmonella and promoting Lactobacillus, contributing to intestinal health.

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