Effect of organic acids in water on production parameters and intestinal integrity in layers

Abstract

Organic acids in the poultry industry are considered a strategy tocontrol the intestinal microbiota of birds, in order to obtain betterresults in the productive field and avoid the use of antibiotics andgrowth promoters. The objective of the research was to evaluate the useof organic acids in laying hens, to determine its effect on theproductive parameters and intestinal integrity. The research was carriedout at the “Avipolet” poultry farm located in the Salcedo canton,Mulalillo parish, with laying hens of the Lohmann Brown line from week19 to 26 of breeding, different doses of organic acids were applied inthe drinking water (0ml/l, 0.05ml/l, and 0.1ml/l), we worked with threetreatments and six repetitions, with a total sample of 450 birds(150/treatment), the variables evaluated were weight, weight gain,weight egg, feed conversion, percentage mortality, weight and length ofthe duodenum and gastrointestinal integrity. It was possible to knowthat the weight of the egg and the feed conversion have a directrelationship with the degree of acidification of the digestive tract,establishing 0.05ml/l of organic acids as the best dose, while in thevariables mortality, weight and duodenum length, the dose with the bestresults was 0.1ml/l of organic acids, presenting the highest values.Finally, it was confirmed that the use of organic acids, regardless ofthe dose used, has a favorable response to the control of pathogens suchas Escherichia coli and Enterobacteria at the duodenal level.