Phytate utilization using feed grade acidifiers to improve tibia composition, gut microbiology and intestinal pH of broiler chickens

Abstract

Phytate is an anti-nutrient in feedstuffs that inhibits nutrient utilization by chelating multivalent cations and other nutrients. Hence, the need to buffer feeds to improve digestibility. Two hundred and eighty eight (288) broiler finisher chickens were used for the study. They were allotted to four treatments each replicated thrice with twenty four (24) broiler chickens per replicate in a completely randomized design. The control diet had adequate available phosphorus at 0.5% while others were sub-optimal at 0.4%. Three acidifiers; Fysal®, Acidomix® and Orgacid® were supplemented in the diets of broiler chickens in treatments two to four at 0.1%. Investigations carried out were determination of intestinal pH, tibia bone compositions and gut microbiology. Broiler chickens fed with acidified diets showed significantly (P<0.05) lower pH levels compared to those on the control diet. Tibia weight, calcium and robusticity index were significantly (P<0.05) better in broiler chickens fed with diets containing acidifier supplementation. Those broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with Fysal® showed the best results in all tibia compositions. Organic acids significantly (P<0.05) reduced Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus sp. in the intestinal segments of broiler chickens fed with acidified diets. It was concluded that supplementation of organic acid in broiler chickens’ diets at 0.1% can reduce phytate’s chelation on fed minerals, improving bone mineralization and enhancing gut health for better performance.