Effects of dietary sodium diformate supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal function of broiler chickens

The present study evaluated the effects of dietary sodium diformate (NaDF) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal microbiota, immune function, and antioxidant status in broiler chickens. A total of 576 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments (0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, or 5.0 g/kg NaDF) with six replicates each for a 42-day trial. NaDF supplementation quadratically increased the average body weight at 42 days of age and the overall average daily gain of broilers (P < 0.05). The administration of NaDF induced both linear and quadratic decreases in the pH of the ileal contents (P < 0.05). The retention coefficients of crude protein were linearly improved by NaDF treatment (P < 0.05). Supplementation with NaDF modulated gut microbiota by linearly increasing ileal Lactobacillus counts while reducing jejunal and ileal Escherichia coli and Salmonella populations (P < 0.05). Additionally, NaDF supplementation quadratically decreased the concentration of jejunal tumor necrosis factor alpha. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that NaDF enhances broiler growth performance probably by lowering gut pH, promoting nutrient digestion, modulating microbiota, and reducing intestinal inflammation, supporting its potential as a promising alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production.