Evaluation of tibia characteristics and pH of gastrointestinal tract of broilers fed antibiotic, organic acid, probiotic and prebiotic

This experiment was conducted to evaluate and compare the effect of antibiotic, organic acid, probiotic and prebiotic on acidity of the different parts of gastrointestinal tract and tibia characteristics of broilers in a completely randomized design with 160 commercial male Ross-308 strain of broiler chickens with five treatments, four replicates and eight hens in each replicate. The experimental treatments consisted: 1- basal diet, 2- basal diet + 150 g/ton antibiotic (oxytetracycline), 3- basal diet + 3 kg/ton of organic acid (orgacid), 4- basal diet + 150 g/ton probiotic (protoxin) and 5- basal diet + 2 kg/ton of prebiotic (mannan oligosaccharide). The results showed that the pH of duodenum, jejunum and ileum by using organic acid supplementation were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Probiotic treatment significantly decreased pH of duodenum and jejunum (P<0.05). Percentage of tibia calcium by using organic acid and prebiotic were significantly increased (P<0.05). By the use of organic acid percentage tibia magnesium was significantly increased (P<0.05). Organic acid supplementation significantly increased the thickness of the tibia (P<0.05). Although Tibia strength and resistance were numerically improved by use of organic acid probiotic and prebiotic, these changes were not significant. The results of this experiment showed that the use of organic acid supplementation increased the level of tibia elements of broiler chickens.