Research Article Open Access

Plasma Thyroid Hormone Concentrations and pH Values of Some GI-Tract Segments of Broilers Fed on Different Dietary Citric Acid and Microbial Phytase Levels

Rouhollah Nourmohammadi1, Seyed Mohammad Hosseini1, Hamed Saraee1 and Alireza Arab1
  • 1 University of Birjand, Iran

Abstract

Problem statement: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of microbial phytase supplementation and citric acid on thyroid activity, relative weight of lymphoid organs and pH values of some GI-tract segments in broiler chickens fed corn-soybean meal based diets. Approach: The data was analyzed using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with factorial arrangement of 3×3, three levels of citric acids (0, 3 and 6%) and three levels of phytase (0, 500 and 1000 IU kg−1). There were three replicates (with ten chicks in each replicate) for each treatment. A total of 270 Ross 308 broiler chicks were used. Results: Addition of citric acid to diets caused significant decrease in pH values of crop, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum and ileum (p<0.05) and caused significant increase (p<0.01) in plasma triiodothyronine (T3) concentration, T3:T4 ratio and relative weight of bursa and thymus, but had no significant effect on thyroxin (T4) concentrations. Microbial phytase significantly increased relative weight of thymus (p<0.01), but had no significant effects on thyroid gland activity, relative weight of bursa and values of pH in different parts of the GI-tract. Conclusion: Broiler chicks fed on acidifiers diets had better immune response resistance that lead to immunological advances. Also, decreasing pH in GI-tract by CA caused a beneficial effect in the inhibition of intestinal bacteria competition.

American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Volume 6 No. 1, 2011, 1-6

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajavsp.2011.1.6

Submitted On: 12 February 2011 Published On: 26 April 2011

How to Cite: Nourmohammadi, R., Hosseini, S. M., Saraee, H. & Arab, A. (2011). Plasma Thyroid Hormone Concentrations and pH Values of Some GI-Tract Segments of Broilers Fed on Different Dietary Citric Acid and Microbial Phytase Levels. American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 6(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajavsp.2011.1.6

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Keywords

  • Broilers fed
  • phytase supplementation
  • pH value
  • thyroid hormones
  • intestinal bacteria
  • plasma triiodothyronine
  • GI-tract segments
  • thyroid activity
  • Microbial Phytases (MP)
  • broiler chicks
  • Citric acid (CA)
  • Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA)