Effect of acetic acid on the intestinal microbiota (Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus spp.) and zootenic parameters in broiler chickens

Abstract

In broilers it is important that nutrients are processed efficiently; The objective of this research was to evaluate the dose of acetic acid with pH 5 and pH 6 to see the behavior in the intestinal microbiota and improve the performance of zootechnical parameters. It was carried out on the Aguachilla farm, Municipality of San Marcos, Department of San Salvador, between the months of january and august 2021. 99 day-old line broilers Hubbard® were used, the acid Acetic acid was added to the drinking water in two periods; the first from day 15 to 24, the second period from day 32 to 42. The statistical model used was completely random, with three treatments and three repetitions, consisting of eleven experimental units each. For the laboratory methodology, a sample of intestinal content was used, carrying out two samplings, the samples were processed and analyzed in the Microbiology Laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the University of El Salvador, resulting in a control of the colonyforming units of E. coli and an increase in the colony-forming units of Lactobacillus spp. in the treatments with acetic acid. The main conclusion was: the addition of acetic acid in the drinking water of broilers improved the environment of the intestinal microbiota; favoring the growth of lactic acid bacteria, which was reflected in the zootechnical parameters, obtaining better weight gain at the sixth week pH 6 with an average of 2,921.67 g (P>0.05) and feed conversion with pH 5 gave a value of 1.65 (P>0.05).