Effects of dietary short- and medium-chain fatty acids on performance, carcass traits, jejunum morphology, and serum parameters of broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs; C4 powder) and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs; Bergaprime) on performance, carcass characteristics, and some serum parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 200 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were assigned to five dietary treatments, including control diets (C), C plus Virginiamycin (200g/ton; ANTI) as positive control, C plus MCFAs supplement (1kg Bergaprime/ton; M), C plus SCFAs supplement (3kg C4 powder/ton in starter and 1.5kg/ton in grower and finisher diets; S), and C plus the combination of SCFAs and MCFAs supplement (SM), as mentioned above according to a completely randomized design. Each treatment consisted of 4 replicates with 10 chicks each. There were no significant differences in body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio, and carcass traits among the treatments. SCFAs and MCFAs treatments had higher heterophil and lower lymphocyte percentage compared to the control treatment. Blood glucose and cholesterol concentrations were decreased in MCFAs and SCFAs (p<.05). Lipid percentage of thigh meat of MCFAs and SCFAs was decreased. These results indicated that dietary MCFAs and SCFAs positively decreased broiler chicken meat.