In Pakistan poultry industry is well established and organized sector of agriculture, with more than 200 billion rupees investment among the largest industries and claimed largest industry in Pakistan . The need of the recent poultry industry are high levels of production and efficient feed conversion ,which to a certain extent could be attained by the consumption of specific feed additives like (OA). One of the effective feed additive in poultry ration is Butyric acid escepecialy encapsulated butyric acid because coated have extended release at target site .Microencapsulated butyric is tool to improve Growth performance and gut health in broilers . TheBA is a readily available energy source for intestinal epithelial cells and stimulates their differentiation and multiplication consequently it improves broilers performance.The biological trial was conducted at Research and development Farm Sharif Feed Mills (Pvt) Ltd, Okara for the duration of 35 days. In total, 336 1-day-old broiler chicks were procured from a commercial hatchery and randomly assigned to 12 floor pens on a concrete floor with rice husk as a bedding material. Four dietary treatments containing microencapsulated butyric acid (0.00, 0.25, 0.35 & 0.45g/kg × three replicate pens each having 28 chicks). There was one feeding trough and six water nipples in each pen. On 7th day of the experiment, feeding troughs were replaced with a round bottom feeder. All standard management practices were followed through the trial. Birds were vaccinated according to prescribed schedule. Weekly body weight and feed intake was recorded to calculate the weekly body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. At the end of experiment, two birds were randomly picked from each pen and slaughtered for the collection of serum in evacuated tube, duodenal samples and ileal digesta. These duodenal samples preserved in 10% formalin for tissue processing and Ileal digesta samples stored at -20C for AIA and CP.The collected data were analyzed through completely randomizes design (CRD) under one way ANOVA technique. Means were separated through Duncan’s Multiple Range test with the help of SAS 9.1.3.in conclusion we can say that Addition of microencapsulated butyric acid in broilers diet improved body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, gut health and apparent ileal digestibility of protein but no significant effect was observed on antibody titer against Newcastle disease.
Suggestion and recommendation
Further research is needed to evaluate the protected butyric acid on enzyme secretion and starch utilization, along with other nutrient digestibility in broilers