Effect of Methionine and Organic Acid on Apparent Nutrient Utilization and Gut Morphology of Broiler Chicken

Aim: Nutrient metabolisability and gut morphological response of broiler birds fed diets supplemented with methionine and methionine hydoxy analogue with or without formic acid were investigated in a 56-day feeding trial.

Methodology: One hundred and ninety-two one-day old unsexed Arbor Acre broilers were used. The birds were brooded for 7 days after which they were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments with 4 replicates of 12 birds each. The experimental treatments were: diet 1: basal diet + DL-methionine without formic acid, diet 2: basal diet + DL-methionine (0.12%) with 0.8% formic acid, diet 3: basal diet + methionine hydroxyl analogue without formic acid, diet 4: basal diet + methionine hydroxyl analogue with formic acid.

Experimental Design: The design of the experiment was a completely randomised design in a 2X2 factorial arrangement.

Results: Formic acid supplementation had a significant (P<0.05) influence on apparent nutrient metabolisability of all the nutrients assessed. Apparent nutrient metabolisability was significantly (p<0.05) improved in birds fed with diet 2 relative to birds fed other diets. There were significant (P<0.05) differences observed in the wall thickness, villus height, villus width and crypt depth of the birds. Formic acid supplementation significantly (P<0.05) reduced gut wall thickness and increased villus height, villus width and crypt depth in birds fed with diet 4. The interaction between formic acid and thetype of sulphur amino acid sources was significant for wall thickness, crypt depth, villus height and villus width (P<0.0069 to 0.0488) of the jejunum.

Conclusion: The gut parameters were better for birds fed with diet 2. Likewise birds fed with diet 4 showed better gut morphology. Formic acid supplementation improved apparent nutrient digestibility and gut morphology of broiler chickens used in the study.