PHOTO: LEX SALVERDA


ORGANIC ACIDS ▶▶▶


Application of organic acids in the broiler industry


Organic acids are promising alternatives for antibiotics in broiler production systems.


BY SAMANEH AZARPAJOUH, INDEPENDENT RESEARCHER I


n intensive broiler production systems, feed additives are necessary to improve performance and productivity. In the past, antibiotics have been used as growth promoters to increase production and improve gut health. However,


due to the problem of antibiotic resistance in animals and humans and antibiotics residues in meat and egg, it is recom- mended to use other safe alternatives to maintain the growth and feed efficiency of broilers. Organic acids are promising al- ternatives that are used as feed preservatives and in addition they increase feed intake, growth, and feed efficiency and improve gut health and integrity in broilers.


Supplementing with organic acids Organic acids have several applications in the broiler industry. Organic acid supplementation has growth-pro- moting effects in broilers due to the creation of a suitable environment for growth-enhancing bacteria. Including organic acids such as propionic acid, formic acid, citric acid, and acetic acid in broiler feed improves feed intake, growth, feed efficiency, the feed conversion ratio and per- formance. The improved feed conversion ratio in broilers supplemented with organic acids could be due to enhanced nutrients consumption, which results in higher weight gain. The improved performance of broilers in response to the supplementation of organic acid is because of the increased digestibility of energy and protein contents of the feed, fewer microbial patho gens, improved immunity, reduced infectious level, and a lower level of ammonia and harmful metabolites. Moreover, organic acids such as benzoic acid, acetic acid, and their salts, such as sodium benzoate and sodium acetate are used as a feed preservative by reduc- ing gut pH and thus limiting the growth of bacteria. The antibacterial activity of organic acid is related to its acid


28 ▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 30, No. 5, 2022


chemistry, the bacterial species, media composition, and growth conditions. In addition, citric acid improves the development of Lactobacillus spp. in the gut and inhibits the growth and proliferation of pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli by activating the proteolytic enzymes, absorption of minerals, reduction of ammonia and growth-depressing microbial metabolites, and stimu- lation of feed intake. Organic acids also improve intestinal integrity by reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria and limiting their entry into the intestinal mucosa which in turn decreases the subsequent inflammatory process in broilers gut. In the following sections studies on the effect of organic acid supplementation in broilers are discussed.


Growth-promoting effects In 2009, a study found that supplementation with 0.5% citric acid increased feed intake, growth, carcass yield, and bone ash in broilers. Another study determined that a diet supplemented with acetic acid, citric acid, and lactic acid enhanced live body weight in broilers. It is also found that supplementation of citric acid improved feed consumption and feed efficiency in broilers and that supplementation of ascorbic, malic acid, and tartaric acid increased weight gain and feed efficiency. In addition, research showed enhanced broiler weight in response to 0.4% butyrate and a higher growth performance in broilers in response to sup- plementation with 0.9% organic acid. It is reported that a diet supplemented with a combination of sodium butyrate, citric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, formic acid, and lactic acid improved growth performance in broilers.


Antimicrobial effect Treating feed with 1% formic acid for five days reduces Salmonella, according to research. It is also found that citric acid solution reduced the growth of Listeria monocytogenes on poultry legs stored at 4 °C for eight days and that the addition of 0.9% organic acid to broilers’ diet reversed Salmonella colonisation.


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