Response of broiler chickens to administration of water containing different concentration of Hydrochloric acid at two age groups

Abstract

An eight weeks (56 days) experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of broiler chickens to water treated with different concentrations of hydrochloric acid (HC1) at two age groups (5 to 56 days and 21 to 56 days). Two hundred and forty Abor-Acre broiler chicks were used and randomly allotted to two age groups (5 to 56 days and 21 to 56 days) and four treatments which were replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate. Treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 contained HO concentrations of 0 ppm, 1500 ppm, 2500 ppm and 3500 ppm, respectively, in drinking water. The birds were managed on deep litre system and fed ad libitum. The results from group 1 (day 5 to 56 days of different concentrations of HC1 inclusion in water) showed no significant (P>0.05) difference in feed intake and feed conversion ratio at the starter phase. However, final body weight and body weight gain were significantly (p<0.05) different. At the finisher phase all the parameters measured were significantly (p<0.05) affected. The results from group two (day 21 to 56 days of different concentrations HC1 inclusion in water), final body weight, body weight gain and weekly feed intake were significantly (p<0.05) different. In finisher phase, there was no significant (p<0.05) difference in feed intake. However, there were significant (p<0.05) difference in final body' weight, body weight gain, weekly hydrochloric acid treated water intake and feed conversion ratio. The results of the nutrient digestibility showed significant differences (p<0.0 5) in all the parameters measured in the phases (days 5-56 and 21-56) respectively. It is therefore recommended that lower concentrations of hydrochloric acid of 1500ppm given from younger stage holds the potential to be used as growth promoter supplement in broiler chickens.