Effect of ProPhorce™ SR 130 on performance of broiler chickens in comparison to coated butyric acid and negative control
Report Research and Development (ADAS, UK 2014. Presented at the 20th ESPN in Prague)
Introduction
Butyric acids and their derivatives impact the development of the epithelium cells of the villi in gut. This can result in improved feed utilisation and animal performance.
Objective
An experiment was conducted to study the efficacy of ProPhorce™ SR 130 in comparison to coated butyric acid at isobutyric levels on performance of broiler chickens. To mimic commercial conditions as closely as possible, dirty litter was added after parasitological, bacterial and viral pathological evaluation.
Material and Methods
|
Total number of broilers |
720 |
|
Number of treatments |
3 |
|
Replicates per treatment |
12 pens per treatment |
|
Broilers per replicate |
Approximately 20 broilers per pen on day 0 |
|
Required age of broilers on arrival |
Day old |
|
Target live weight on arrival (Day 0) |
41g (38 – 45g) |
|
Breed of broilers |
Ross 308 |
|
Sex of broilers |
Male |
|
Diet form (Coarse Mash/pellet) |
Phase 1 Starter – Coarse Mash (0 -9 days) Phase 2 Grower - Pellets (3mm) (9 - 25 days) Phase 3 Finisher – Pellets (3mm) (25 - 35 days) |
|
Days on which pens of broilers are weighed |
Day 0 (arrival, prior to feeding test diets), Day 9 (prior to change from phase 1 to phase 2 diets) Day 25 (prior to change from phase 2 to phase 3 diets) Day 35 (end) |
|
Feed phases (Target crude protein % standard broiler ration) |
Phase 1 diet = 21.8 % crude protein Phase 2 diet = 20.6 % crude protein Phase 3 diet = 19.1 % crude protein |
|
Length of feed phases |
Phase 1 Day 0 – Day 9 (9 days) Phase 2 Day 9 - Day 25 (16 days) Phase 3 Day 25 – Day 35 (10 days) Total feeding time = 35 days |
|
Days on which feed is weighed |
At 0, 9, 25 and 35 days and whenever fresh feed added |
|
Vaccination programme |
IB vaccination day old at hatchery |
|
Parameters measured |
Feed intake, body weight, FCR, and percentage mortality. |
|
Day 7 |
Dirty litter added to mimic commercial conditions |
|
Treatment |
Dosage Phase 1 (Kg/ton) |
Dosage Phase 2 (Kg/ton) |
Dosage Phase 3 (Kg/ton) |
|
Negative Control |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
ProPhorceTM SR130 |
0.5 |
0.25 |
0.25 |
|
Coated Butyric Acid |
1 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
Statistical evaluation
Average live weight, feed intake, FCR, and mortality percentage will be analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference tests in the first instance to compare all treatments (T1, T2, and T3). The ANOVA null hypothesis is that there is no significant difference among treatments
Results
|
Treatment |
Control |
ProPhorceTM SR130 |
Coated Butyric Acid |
|
Slaughter Weight |
2.511a |
2.627b |
2.606b |
|
Average Daily Gain |
70.63a |
73.94b |
73.34b |
|
Overal Feed Intake g/b/d |
106.02 |
107.38 |
106.10 |
|
FCR(corrected for mortality) |
1.515b |
1.472a |
1.465a |
Discussion
The performance of the broilers was very good, 2.51 kg at 35 days with FCR of 1.537 in the control group. Even so, the dietary inclusion of ProPhorce™ SR 130 and the coated butyric acid at isobutyric levels improved the FCR and final bodyweight statistically significantly. Furthermore, no negative effects were observed regarding feed intake in both the SR130 as well as the coated butyric acid group. The mortality did not differ statistically between the three treatment groups at 5% average.
Results show that the addition of ProPhorce™ SR 130 at dose levels mentioned above improve FCR , ADG and final weight in comparison with control and do not differ from coated butyric acid treatment at isobutyric dosage.