Effects of Sodium Acetate and Sodium Propionate Supplemented Diets on Growth Performance and Gut Histomorphology of Broiler Starters

Abstract

In a 21-day feeding trial, 240 one-day old broiler chicks were distributed into five treatments replicated six times
with eight birds each to evaluate the effect of sodium acetate, sodium propionate and their combination on
growth performance and gut histomorphological parameters of broiler starter. Diet 1 was a basal diet, diets 2, 3,
4 and 5 contained 0.1g/kg oxytetracycline, 4g/kg sodium acetate, 4g/kg sodium propionate and combination of
4g/kg sodium acetate + 4g/kg sodium propionate respectively. Performance indices, morphological
measurements and histological examinations were assayed for. Birds fed sodium acetate diet had significantly
(P<0.05) higher final weight compared to those fed other diets. However, birds fed sodium propionate diets and
the combination were identical with birds fed other treatments. Improved villus height was recorded for birds fed
sodium acetate, which did not differ significantly from those fed the combination. Sample sectioning of liver of
birds fed antibiotics revealed dissociation of hepatic cords while sodium propionate showed hepatic necrosis.
However sodium acetate and the combination showed no observable lesion. Bursa of fabricius of birds fed
antibiotics revealed evidence of fibrosis while those fed sodium propiona