Comparison of the Nutritional Effects of Citric Acid-Based Acidifiers Produced with a Commercial Acidifier on Performance, Blood Metabolites, Small Intestine pH Values and Morphology in Broiler Chickens

This experiment was conducted to the comparison of produced acidifier (based on citric acid) with commercial type in the broiler diets on performance, blood metabolites, intestinal morphology and the small intestine pH values of broilers. A total of 400 one-day-old Ross broiler chicks were used in this experiment. A completely randomized design with 5 treatments, 4 replicate and 20 chicks per replicate was performed. Experimental treatments included a control diet with adding 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% produced and 1% commercial acidifiers. The results indicated that feed intake (FI) increased at broiler chickens received 1 and 1.5% acidifier in comparison with the control group at the starter period (p<0.05). The body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved by the 0.5% acidifier in comparison with control groups at the starter and the entire rearing periods (p<0.05). The inclusion of 1% produced acidifier decreased BWG and increased FCR compared to the control at the starter and whole periods (p<0.05). Whereas, commercial acidifier improved performance during the grower and whole periods compared to the control (p<0.05). The 1.5% level of produced acidifier increased FCR compared to the control at the starter period (p<0.05). The serum HDL of broiler chicken received acidifier was not significantly different from the control group. But, the lowest LDL was found in the 0.5% acidifier. There was a decrease in serum activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in diets containing 1.5 and 1% of produced and commercial acidifiers compared with control groups (p<0.05). Gastrointestinal pH was not affected in duodenum and jejunum in acid-containing diets compared with controls at 28 and 42 days of age. Also, acidifier improved the traits of intestinal morphology (p<0.05). According to the results of this experiment 0.5% acidifier in feed of broiler chicken to improve performance and positive effect on blood metabolite is recommended.