Evaluation of a commercially available organic acid product on body weight loss, carcass yield, and meat quality during preslaughter feed withdrawal in broiler chickens: A poultry welfare and economic perspective

The effect of a commercial organic acid (OA) product on BW loss (BWL) during feed with- drawal and transportation, carcass yield, and meat quality was evaluated in broiler chickens. Two experi- ments were conducted in Brazil. Commercial houses were paired as control groups receiving regular water and treated groups receiving OA in the water. Treated birds had a reduction in BWL of 37 g in experiment 1 and 32.2 g in experiment 2. In experiment 2, no differ- ences were observed in carcass yield between groups. Estimation of the cost benefit suggested a 1:16 ratio by using the OA. In experiment 3, conducted in Mexico, significant differences on water consumption, BWL, and meat quality characteristics were observed in chick- ens that were treated with the OA (P < 0.05). These data suggest this OA product may improve animal wel- fare and economic concerns in the poultry industry by reducing BWL and improving meat quality attributes.