Animal Husbandry and Feed Science ›› 2020, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (4): 13-16.doi: 10.12160/j.issn.1672-5190.2020.04.003

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Effect of Adding Lactic Acid in Drinking Water on Growth Performance and Disease Resistance of Sanhuang Chickens

WANG Shu-yan1, SHEN Qian-cheng2, LING Ding1, LIANG Zhu-min1   

  1. 1. Guangxi Agricultural Vocational College,Nanning 530007,China;
    2. Guangxi Jinling Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Group Co. ,Ltd. ,Nanning 530000,China
  • Received:2020-04-07 Online:2020-07-30 Published:2020-08-19

Abstract: [Objective] To assess the effect of adding lactic acid in drinking water on the growth performance and disease resistance of Sanhuang chickens. [Method] A total of 5 000 one-day-old Sanhuang chickens were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups with 1 000 chickens in each group. Lactic acid was added in drinking water of the four experimental groups of A, B, C and D to adjust the pH value to 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0, respectively. The chickens in the experimental groups were given acidified water for 4 hours per day, and the control group received normal drinking water. The body weight and feed intake of the chickens were measured, the number of dead and diseased chickens per day was recorded, and the indicators such as average daily gain, feed conversion rate and mortality rate were calculated. [Result] (1) From 1 to 35 days of age, the group C had the most obviously increase in average daily gain which was elevated by 3.33%; after 36 days of age, the group B had the similar level in average daily gain with the control group, while the other experimental groups were reduced. (2)The feed intake and feed conversion rate of the groups B and C had significant (P<0.05) differences compared with the control group, and no significant (P>0.05) differences in those between the groups A and D were observed. (3)The mortality rate of the groups A, B, C and D was reduced by 3.7%, 4.2%, 4.7% and 2.1% compared with the control group, respectively. [Conclusion] In the feeding experiment, the feed conversion rate of the Sanhuang chickens is effectively improved when the pH value of drinking water is adjusted to 4.0 by adding lactic acid. Furthermore, the average daily gain of Sanhuang chickens aged 1 to 35 days is obviously increased, and the mortality rate is obviously reduced. It is indicated that adding appropriate level of lactic acid in drinking water has good application prospects in terms of improving growth performance and disease resistance in broilers.

Key words: lactic acid, Sanhuang chickens, growth performance, disease resistance

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