Effects of formic acid or calcium formate in feed on performance and microbiological characteristics of broilers

• Published in: Poultry science Vol. 69; no. 11; pp. 1876 - 1882
• Main Authors: Izat, A.L. (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR), Adams, M.H, Cabel, M.C, Colberg, M, Reiber, M.A, Skinner, J.T, Waldroup, P.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.11.1990
• Subjects: ACIDE FORMIQUE; ACIDO FORMICO; Administration, Oral; ALIMENTACION DE LOS ANIMALES; ALIMENTATION DES ANIMAUX; Animal Feed; ANIMAL FEEDING; Animals; AVES DE CORRAL; BROILER CHICKENS; CALCIO; CALCIUM; CANAL ANIMAL; CARCASSE; CARCASSES; Chickens; Colony Count, Microbial; DESEMPENO; Enterobacteriaceae - drug effects; Enterobacteriaceae - growth & development; Enterobacteriaceae Infections - microbiology; Enterobacteriaceae Infections - prevention & control; Enterobacteriaceae Infections - veterinary; Food Additives; Formates - administration & dosage; Formates - therapeutic use; FORMIC ACID; INTESTIN; INTESTINES; INTESTINOS; Male; POLLO DE ENGORDE; POULET DE CHAIR; POULTRY; Poultry Diseases - microbiology; Poultry Diseases - prevention & control; SALES; SALMONELLA; Salmonella - drug effects; Salmonella - growth & development; Salmonella Infections, Animal - microbiology; Salmonella Infections, Animal - prevention & control; SALTS; SEL; VOLAILLE
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.3382/ps.0691876

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding broilers formic acid (FA) or calcium formate (CF) on performance and microbiological characteristics of broilers. Live bird performance was not adversely affected by feeding up to 1.0% FA or 1.45% CF. In Experiment 1, levels of salmonellae in carcass and cecal samples were significantly reduced by feeding birds .36% CF. Salmonellae were not isolated from any of the carcasses of birds fed .36% CF. Similar reductions were not noted for total organisms or presumptive coliforms. In Experiment 2, feeding .36% CF nonsignificantly reduced levels of salmonellae in carcass and cecal samples, but again, levels of total organisms and coliforms were not reduced. In Experiment 3, salmonellae in the ceca or in the carcass rinse fluid were not reduced by feeding .36% CF.