Acidic stress caused by dietary administration of citric acid in broiler chickens
Open Access
- 31 July 2015
- journal article
- Published by Copernicus GmbH in Archives Animal Breeding
- Vol. 58 (2), 309-315
- https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-58-309-2015
Abstract
Citric acid (CA) is commonly used in poultry diets to promote growth by acidifying the gastrointestinal contents, improving nutrient digestibility, and reducing pathogen loads; therefore, this study was conducted to demonstrate the effects of 0, 30 and 60 g of CA per kilogramme of diet on productive performance, selected blood metabolites, immune response and certain gut-related variables in broiler chickens using 150, 7-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks in five replicates of 10 birds each per diet. Growth performance, daily feed intake and tibia phosphorous (P) retention were significantly improved by the diets containing 30 g kg−1 of CA (P < 0.01) but were suppressed as CA increased to 60 g kg−1. Dietary CA increased proventriculus, gizzard and ileum percentage and villus length, crypt depth and goblet cell number in duodenum, jejunum and ileum as well as ileal digestibility of crude protein, apparent metabolisable energy and total phosphorus while it decreased the pH of contents in the gut segments concerned (P < 0.01). Diets containing 60 g kg−1 of CA significantly reduced plasma P and Fe levels as well as cholesterol level and Alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.05) while increasing the aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities (P < 0.01) in the blood serum of the birds at day 42 of age. The percentage of bursa and thymus was greater in the birds fed on diets containing 60 and 30 g kg−1 of CA, respectively (P < 0.01). It was concluded that inclusion of 60 g kg−1 of CA in the diet resulted in a severe reduction in performance, nutrient digestion and absorption and liver dysfunctions in broiler chickens, a phenomenon we call as acidic stress.Keywords
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effects of xylanase and citric acid on the performance, nutrient retention, and characteristics of gastrointestinal tract of broilers fed low-phosphorus wheat-based dietsPoultry Science, 2011
- Effects of dietary copper, citric acid, and microbial phytase on digesta pH and ileal and carcass microbiota of broiler chickens fed a low available phosphorus dietJournal of Applied Poultry Research, 2010
- Using Enzymes and Organic Acids in Broiler DietsThe Journal of Poultry Science, 2010
- Thyroid Activity, Some Blood Constituents, Organs Morphology and Performance of Broiler Chicks Fed Supplemental Organic AcidsInternational Journal of Poultry Science, 2008
- Effects of citric acid and microbial phytase on amino acid digestibility in broiler chickensBritish Poultry Science, 2007
- The effect of citric acid and microbial phytase on mineral utilization in broiler chicksAnimal Feed Science and Technology, 2003
- The Effect of Citric Acid on the Calcium and Phosphorus Requirements of Chicks Fed Corn-Soybean Meal DietsPoultry Science, 2001
- The effects of citric acid on phytate-phosphorus utilization in young chicks and pigs.Journal of Animal Science, 2000
- Effects of in vivo metabolic acidosis on midcortical bone ion composition.American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 1999
- Effect of Dietary Propionic and Lactic Acids on Feed Intake by ChicksPoultry Science, 1984