Varyukhin DM, Bardakova AS, Ryazantseva KV.

Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2026. Vol. 109. No. 3. Р. 337-350.

doi: 10.33284/2658-3135-109-3-337

Original article

 

Effect of acidifier on productive performance, feed digestibility, and meat chemical composition of broiler chickens

 

Dmitriy M Varyukhin¹, Alexandra S Bardakova 2, Kristina V Ryazantseva3

1,2,3Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, Russia

1vary215.2000@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3563-8123

2alya.bardakova.03@bk.ru, https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6807-4690

3reger94@bk.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5134-0396

 

Abstract. Improving productive performance is a primary objective in industrial poultry farming. Currently, this goal can be achieved through the use of various nutrient complexes added to the basic diet of broilers. This paper presents the results of an experimental study evaluating the effectiveness of the commercial acidifier "Ormik" (a blend of formic, lactic, acetic, and orthophosphoric acids) at three dosages (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g/kg of feed) in the feeding of Ross‑308 cross broiler chickens. It was found that the inclusion of the acidifier exerts a dose-dependent effect on the digestibility of nutrients in both starter and grower diets, as well as on the chemical composition of muscle, bone tissue, skin, and internal organs. The best growth-promoting effect was observed at the lowest studied dosage (0.5 g/kg), which provided an increase in absolute live weight gain of 33.5 g compared to the control. This dosage also improved the digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude fat, and crude protein, and increased the protein content in muscle tissue. Increasing the dosage to 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg did not result in improved productive performance and, in some cases, led to its decrease, indicating the existence of threshold levels for the inclusion of acid complexes. The obtained results allow recommending "Ormik" at a dose of 0.5 g/kg of feed as an effective feed additive for optimizing digestion and enhancing meat productivity in broilers.

Keywords: broiler chicks, acidifiers, feeding, productive effect, digestibility, chemical composition of meat

Acknowledgments: the work was supported in accordance to the plan of research works for 2024-2026 FSBRI FRC BST RAS (No. FNWZ-2024-0002).

For citation: Varyukhin DM, Bardakova AS, Ryazantseva KV. Effect of acidifier on productive performance, feed digestibility, and meat chemical composition of broiler chickens. Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2026:109(3): 337-350. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.33284/2658-3135-109-3-337

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Information about the authors:

Dmitriy M Varyukhin, Postgraduate Student, Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, 9 Yanvarya Street, Orenburg, 460000, Russia, phone: 8(3532)30-81-78.

Alexandra S Bardakova, Master's Student, Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, 9 Yanvarya Street, Orenburg, 460000, phone: 8(3532)30-81-78.

Kristina V Ryazantseva, Cand. Sci. (Biology), Researcher of the Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Morphology of Animals, Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29, 9 Yanvarya St., Orenburg, 460000, tel.: 89867759545.

The article was submitted 15.07.2026; approved after reviewing 22.08.2026; accepted for publication 14.09.2026.

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