SCHWARZER K., ARNOUTS S.
The effect of coated butyrate in broiler diets on zoo-technical performance and carcass yield.
It is well-recognized that butyric acid is an energy source for the epithelial cells of the villi, improving the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. The performance and the carcass have been compared of broilers, receiving diets supplemented with coated sodium butyrate, with broilers, receiving diets supplemented with Avilamycine.
The trial consisted of 2 treatments, each one of 8 repetitions (each replicate 25 male and 25 female birds):
- Treatment 1: inclusion of 10 ppm Avilamycine in starter, in grower and in finisher diet
- Treatment 2: coated sodium butyrate added respectively at 1000 ppm in starter diet (0-10 days of age), at 500 ppm in grower diet (11-22 days of age), at 250 ppm in finisher diet (23-39 days of age) and at 250 ppm in withdrawal diet (39-45 days of age)
The zoo-technical performance (average daily growth, average daily feed intake and feed conversion) was recorded at 14, 28, 39 and 45 days of age.
The broilers receiving the diets with coated butyrate had a better growth up to 39 days of 1.5% versus the group with Avilamycine. At 45 days of age the average live weights were similar for the two treatments. However the feed conversion ratio was in favour of the group receiving coated butyrate: 1.736 versus 1.747.
Of each treatment 50 birds at 45 days of age have been sacrificed to evaluate the slaughter yield. The carcass yield of the broilers with the coated butyrate in the feed was superior (86.78% versus 85.99%). The gain was mainly in the noble parts, in particular the muscles.
The addition of coated sodium butyrate in diets results in a similar broiler performance compared with diets containing Avilamycine and increased carcass yield.
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