Impacts of Coated Sodium Butyrate (Butigold®) on Growth Efficacy and Intestinal Development of Gallus Gallus Domesticus Cobb 400

The poultry industry has undergone significant intensification in recent decades, with production systems increasingly focused on achieving optimal growth rates, feed efficiency, and overall flock health with the Coated Sodium Butyrate (Butigold®). In such high-performance systems, the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of broiler chickens plays a central role, functioning not only as the primary site of digestion and nutrient absorption but also as a vital component of the bird’s immune defence system. The structural and functional integrity of the GIT directly influences feed conversion efficiency, nutrient utilization, and resistance to enteric pathogens. Consequently, maintaining gut health is critical for sustainable broiler production, particularly in the context of global restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) due to concerns over antimicrobial resistance.