Effect of different dosages of an organic-acid mixture in broiler diets

In a trial with 20 x 225 broilers of Ross hybrid, the effect of different:d osages (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9%) of supplementing a mixture of organic acids ( Lupro-Cid(R)) to a control diet (starter, grower, finisher) was tested from day 1 to 41. Total bacterial counts after a storage period of six weeks have shown, that the acid addition - even the 0.3% concentration Stopped microbial reproduc tion effectively. Growth performance was similar in all diets on a high level (average final weight: 2,252 g, average feed consumption per kg weight gain: 1.753 kg). Ma inly at the beginning of the trial, mortality was slightly lowered in the o rganic-acid-supplemented diets. Up to: the end of the trial, this effect co uld only be seen in the diet supplemented with 0.9% of the mixture of organ ic acids. Microbial tests from cloaca swaps just before slaughtering showed Campyloba cter jejuni-positive results for the control broilers, whereas no Campyloba cter jejuni were found in the cloaca of acid-treated animals.