Effects of corn particle size distributions and formic acid on productive and processing performance of broilers

Formic acid (FA) decreases the pH of feed, which could create a less favorable environment for bacteria and improve the efficacy of digestive enzymes. However, research evaluating the effects of feeding coarse corn (CC) particle size distributions and FA to broilers is sparse. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding varying corn particle size distributions and FA on broiler live performance as well as prevalence of cecal Salmonella spp. upon slaughter. A 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of 3 corn particle size distributions (all 395 µm fine corn [FC], 1,642 µm CC blended at a greater inclusion with fine corn to generate a corn particle size of 850 µm (CC-Hi), or 2,290 µm CC blended at a lesser inclusion when compared to CC-Hi to generate a corn particle size of 850 µm (CC-Lo) and 2 dietary levels (0.0 and 0.4%) of partially buffered FA provided by Amasil NA (ANA) were provided from 11 to 48 d of age (32 birds/pen; 12 replicate pens/treatment). CC-Lo and CC-Hi had the same particle size, but different particle size distributions. Birds fed diets with CC and ANA improved their FCR compared with those fed diets with FC and without ANA at 48 d (P ≤ 0.05). Dietary inclusion of FA increased pectoralis minor yield at 43 d (P ≤ 0.05) but did not affect cecal Salmonella carriage. These data indicated that diets with FA and with a CC particle size distribution can be fed during the whole production period of broilers.