In addition to offering
methionine, 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric
acid (HMTBa) is also an organic
acid and shows excellent bacteriostasis. Therefore, 3 experiments were conducted to determine the influence of
drinking water supplemented HMTBa in combination with acidifier on performance, intestinal development, and microflora in broilers. The addition of different concentration (0.02-0.20%) of the blend of HMTBa and other
acids significantly reduced the pH of water and exerted antimicrobial activity in dose-dependent manner in vitro. The outcomes from animal trial consisting of the
drinking water with blended acidifier at 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20% indicated that the water with 0.15 or 0.20% acidifier resulted in linear and quadratic higher
body weight at 42 d, gain and water consumption during 1 to 42 d (P < 0.05). In experiment 3, responding to graded blended acidifier in
drinking water, birds receiving 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20% acidifier decreased the internal pH of gastrointestinal tract and muscle, and exhibited increased duodenal weight, length, villus high, and the ratio of villus high to crypt depth.
Drinking water with 0.2% blended acidifier increased the abundance of probiotics (Bacteroidaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae) and decreased the account of pathogenic bacteria such as Desulfovibrionaceae. Alternations in gut microflora were closely related to the metabolism of
carbohydrate,
amino acid, and
vitamins. These findings, therefore, suggest that
drinking water with 0.10 to 0.13% the combination HMTBa with acidifier might benefit to intestinal development and gut microbiota, and the subsequent produce a positive effect on the performance of broilers.