Evaluation of encapsulated sodium butyrate with varying releasing times on growth performance and necrotic enteritis mitigation in broilers

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of an encapsulated sodium butyrate (Na-B) with targeted releasing times on growth performance and mitigating the impact of necrotic enteritis in broilers. Two Na-B (30% of Na-B content) products, CMA (2 h releasing time) and CMP (3 to 4 h releasing time), were evaluated in a necrotic enteritis challenge model. The experiment consisted of 4 Na-B treatments (500 and 1,000 ppm of each product) plus 2 control (non challenged and challenged). A total of 336 Cobb Cobb male broilers were placed 8 birds per pen into 7 replicate battery cages. On day 14, birds from challenged treatments were orally gavaged with similar to 5,000 oocysts of Eimeria maxima. On day 19, 20, and 21, the challenged birds received 1 mL of 10(8) cfu/mL Clostridium perfringens. Total pen body weight (BW) and feed weight were assessed on day 14, 21, and 28 for BW gain and mortality-adjusted feed conversion ratio (FCR). On day 21, 3 birds were randomly selected per pen and scored for intestinal lesions. The duodenum and jejunum tissue were collected on day 21 and 28 for quantifying intestinal histology. Results revealed that adding CMA at 500 ppm showed significantly higher cumulative BW gain (P < 0.05) compared to the challenged control from day 1 to 21. Adding CMA at 500 ppm also showed the equivalent cumulative FCR that was comparable to the non-challenged control on day 21. The CMA treatments and CMP at 1,000 ppm treatment showed equivalent BW gain compared to the non-challenge control after an additional 7 d post-challenge on day 28. Both products at 500 or 1,000 ppm had the significantly (P < 0.05) lower intestinal lesion scores compared to the challenged control. However, there was no difference in lesion scores among the Na-B treatments. The Na-B product targeted to release in the anterior intestinal tract shows the beneficial effects on BW gain and feed utilization efficiency in current challenge model. Adding encapsulated Na-B product has the potential to mitigate the impact of necrotic enteritis in broilers.