Effects of Organic Acids on Growth Performance, Livability, Carcass Traits, Leg Bone Qualities, and Economic Profitability in Broiler Chickens Fed Low-Protein Vegetable-Based Diets

A variety of feed additives are widely used in the modern poultry industry for improving productivity and feed conversion efficiency. This study evaluated the effects of dietary organic acids, either butyric acid alone or in combination with acetic acid, supplemented low-protein (crude protein) vegetable diets on growth performance, livability, carcass traits, leg bone qualities, and cost-benefit of broiler production. A total of 216 unsexed one-day-old Ross-308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four treatments, each comprising six replicates of nine chickens. The treatments included D1c (basal diet without OA), D1 (0.6% butyric acid), D2c (basal diet without OA), and D2 (0.3% of butyric and acetic acid). The findings showed that the OA supplementation significantly increased live body weight (LBW) and feed intake (FI), while decreasing feed conversion ratio (FCR), both at 21 and 42 days, when compared to respective controls. Basal diets had no significant effect on LBW, FI, or FCR at either age. However, a significant interaction between basal diets and OA (A × B) was observed for FI and FCR at 21 days. Livability did not differ significantly among treatment groups. Carcass evaluation revealed that broiler chickens in the D2 group showed significantly increased dressing yield, drumstick, breast and giblet percentages, followed by D1, compared with control groups. However, neither basal diets nor A × B interaction had any significant effect on dressing yield or individual carcass parts. In terms of bone qualities, the D2 group demonstrated a significant increase in tibial bone length, width, and ash content compared with the control groups. Although basal diets significantly increased tibial phosphorus content in the D1c group, neither basal diets nor the A × B interaction significantly affected the overall bone traits. Economically, total production cost per kg live body weight reduced and profit increased significantly in the D2 group, followed by D1, compared with controls. Basal diets and A × B interaction did not significantly influence production cost or profitability. In conclusion, supplementation with 0.30% butyric and acetic acid in low-protein vegetable-based diets enhances growth performance, carcass traits, bone qualities, and profitability without affecting livability in broiler chickens.