EFFECTS OF ACIDIFIER SUPPLEMENTATION ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, SERUM LIPOPROTEIN LEVEL AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER

Abstract

One hundred Cobb 500™ broiler chicks were used in a 28-day trial at Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) poultry research shed to study the effects of supplementation of water acidifier on performance parameters, carcass characteristics and serum lipoprotein level in commercial broiler. Birds were divided into five watery treatment groups designated as T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 and each treatment was further divided into two replication having 20 birds per replicate. Acidifier was supplemented at 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.4% in water for different treatment groups respectively. All birds had free access to ad-libitum feeding and watering. Results indicated that, average daily weight gain was significantly (p<0.001) lower from 49.4 to 44.1 g/day at 2nd week and insignificantly (p>0.05) less from 62.5 to 59.6 g/day at 3rd week, but at the 4th week of age body weight gain increased insignificantly (p>0.05) 85.0 to 93.6 g/day at the level of acidifier supplementation increased from 0% to 0.4% in water compare to control group. The highest daily average weight gain 93.6g was recorded in T4 group and the lowest daily average weight gain 80.0g was recorded in T0 group at 4th week. Unlike to weight gain, feed intake differed significantly from 2nd (p<0.01), 3rd (p<0.05) and 4th (p<0.01) weeks of age at the level of acidifier supplementation increased. Feed intake decreased from 148.5g/day to 136.1g/day at 4th week of age at the level of acidifier supplementation increased from 0% to 0.4%. In the same week, the highest daily average feed intake 148.5g was recorded in T1 group and the lowest daily average feed intake 136.1g was recorded at T4 group. FCR was differed significantly at 2nd (p<0.001) and 4th (p<0.05) weeks of age at the level of acidifier supplementation increased and also dissimilar (p>0.05) at 3rd week in acidifier treatment group compare to control group. However, best FCR (1.4) was observed in the T4 group and worst FCR (1.8) was observed in the T0 group at 4th week of age. In case of water intake, acidifier was cause to decrease water intake significantly (p<0.001) from 2nd and 3rd weeks of age at the level of acidifier supplementation increased, but increased water intake significantly (p<0.05) at 4th week of age. The highest daily average water intake 375.0 ml was recorded at T4 group and the lowest daily average water intake 359.4 ml was recorded at T1 group. In addition to performance parameter, acidifier had significantly (p<0.001) decreased abdominal fat weight and significantly (p<0.01) increased gizzard weight. LDL and HDL level of blood serum were significantly (p<0.01) decreased at 4th week in acidifier supplementation group. However, supplementation of acidifier had no influence (p>0.05) on blood serum pH. It could therefore be inferred that, increasing levels of supplemental acidifier substantially improve performance parameter and carcass characteristics at later stage (During 4th week and onward) of commercial broiler with decreasing serum lipoprotein level (LDL and HDL).