title: Use of multivitamin, acidifier and Azolla in the diet of broiler chickens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The experiments were carried out to measure the effect of multivitamin, acidifier and Azolla on growth performance, profitability and lipid profiles of blood of broiler chickens to produce safe and cost effective broilers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In experiment 1, 240 day-old Cobb-500 broiler chicks were fed diets; D1(control), D2(D1with 1 mL multivitamin/liter water), D3(D1with 1 mL acidifier/liter water), D4(D1with 1 mL multivitamin and 2 mL acidifier/liter water) having 3 replications in each, and 20 chicks/replication. In experiment 2, 150 day-old Cobb-500 broiler chicks were fed diets; T1(control), T2(5% Azolla in the diet), T3(7% Azolla in the diet) and T4(T1with 1 mL multivitamin and 1 mL acidifier/liter water) having 3 replications in each, and 20 chicks/replication in control, and 10 chicks/replication in the remaining dietary treatment groups for 35 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In experiment 1, the highest live weight was observed in D4(p<0.05), however, feed intake was statistically similar between diets (p>0.05). The lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p<0.001) and mortality (p<0.05) were observed in D2followed by D4, D1, and D3, respectively. There were no significant differences between diets for feed cost and net profit (p>0.05). However, evidently but not significantly, the highest net profit was obtained in D2followed by D4, D1, and D3, respectively. In experiment 2, the highest live weight (p<0.05) and feed intake (p<0.001) were observed in T4. Mortality (p<0.01), FCR (p<0.01), feed cost (p<0.05) and net profit (p<0.05) were significantly different among diets. Considering net profit, T2was the best performing dietary group followed by T3, T1, and T4, respectively. The lowest lipid profiles were observed in D3followed by D1, D4, and D2, respectively (p<0.05). In experiment 2, the lowest total cholesterol, TG, and the highest amount of high density lipoprotein were observed in T2, followed by T3, T1, and T4, respectively (p<0.05). Evidently but not significantly, low density lipoprotein was the highest in T2followed by T3, T4, and T1, respectively (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, Azolla and acidifier reduced lipid profiles of broiler chickens. Considering net profit and lipid profiles, 5% Azolla may be the suitable dietary group for producing safe and profitable broilers. However, more studies are needed to confirm this study prior to suggesting using Azolla in the poultry industry.
authors: Department of Dairy and Poultry Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh.|Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8528, Japan.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Islam
authors: Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8528, Japan.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Nishibori
keywords: Acidifier; Azolla; Broiler Growth; Lipid Profiles; Multivitamin