Effects of microencapsulated butyric acid supplementation on growth performance and ileal digestibility of protein, gut health and immunity in broilers

The effect of microencapsulated butyric acid (MEBA) on growth performance, ileal digestibility (ID) of protein, gut health and immunity was assessed in broilers. A total of 336 d-old Hubbard Classic broilers chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (Control, 0.25, 0.35 and 0.45 g/kg of MEBA). Each treatment was replicated three times with 28 birds/replicate. Feed intake, body weight gain, FCR, intestinal morphology, ID of protein and immunity was evaluated. At 35-d of age, three birds/replicate were randomly selected and slaughtered to collect blood, duodenal samples, and ileal digesta. The Improved body weight gain (P = 0.05), FCR (P<0.01), duodenal villous height (P<0.05) and ID (P<0.1) were observed; whereas, unresponsive treatment effect with respect to feed intake (P>0.5) and antibody titer against Newcastle disease (P>0.05) were noted. The results indicated that MEBA improves digestion and absorptive processes which consequently improved the broilers performance.