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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #97423
Title: STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF PROPIONIC ACID, ALUM, TANNIC ACID, CALCIUM CARBONATE, AND BETAINE ON THE INTESTINAL STRENGTH OF BROILER CHICKENS

Author
item Huff, William
item Huff, Geraldine
item Balog, Janice
item Rath, Narayan
item Moore, Philip

Submitted to: Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/18/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Studies were conducted to determine the potential of a number of compounds to increase intestinal strength of broilers, which would decrease the cost of processing and fecal contamination of carcasses. Alum was fed at the levels of 0.0, 0.23, 0.47, 0.93, 1.9, and 3.7% with 4 replicate pens of 10 birds per pen to 3 weeks of age. Calcium carbonate was fed at the levels of 0.0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6% with 4 replicate pens of 10 birds per pen to 3 weeks of age. Tannic acid was placed in the drinking water when the birds were 3 weeks of age at the concentrations of 0.0, 0.05, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0%. The birds were taken off of feed and maintained on these water treatments for 24 hours prior to the termination of the studies, and there were 4 replicate pens of 10 broilers per treatment. Two studies were conducted on the effects of propionic acid on intestinal strength. In the first study a mold inhibitor (Mycocurb) was fed at the levels of 0.0, 2.27, 4.54, and 9.07 kg/ton, and calcium propionate at 4.54 or 9.07 kg/ton of feed. In the second study birds were fed 0.0, 2.27, 4.54, 9.07 kg/ton (Mycocurb), or 4.54 and 9.07 kg/ton propionic acid. There were 4 replicate floor pens of 40 birds per pen fed these diets to 6 weeks of age. The effect of betaine on intestinal strength was determined in studies where betaine was either fed at 0.07% for 7 weeks, or added to the drinking water at 0.17% from 6 to 7 weeks of age or both fed and added to the drinking water. In all of these studies a 10 cm length of intestine posterior to the duodenal loop was removed and its strength determined using a shear press. None of these treatments increased the intestinal strength of broiler chickens at the levels and durations examined.