Zoohygienic and veterinary-sanitary aspects of phosphonium salt applica-tion in broiler chicken rearing

The study was conducted on two groups of broiler chickens at Ak Bars poultry complex: the experimental group was orally administered a 1% triphenylphosphonium ethyl carboxylate solution at a dose of 3 ml/bird, while the control group received water. Housing conditions studied generally met zoohygienic requirements. Ammonia concentrations in the air did not exceed 3.1 mg/m3, while the maximum permissible level is 10–15 mg/m3. Relative humidity was lowered during the first 4 weeks (41.0-55.8% with the norm of 65±5%) and reached the recommended level only by the 29th day (62.7±2.3%). Feeding on the farm was balanced. Feed composition was as follows: crude protein – 22.72-18.3%, lysine – 1.46-1.14%, methionine + cystine – 1.11-0.85%, calcium – 0.97-0.74%, phosphorus – 0.55-0.49%, fat in finishing rations – 8.17%. Watering was provided by a nipple system with drip collectors. Water source was artesian water. Monitoring of five drinking lines at different age periods showed that all nipples worked properly. No leakage was observed. Drinking water was characterized by a high color (36°), acceptable transparency (36 cm), slightly acidic (pH 5.5) and a slight excess of iron (0.5±0.05 mg/l with a norm of ≤0.3 mg/l). Veterinary and sanitary examination of poultry meat from the white breast and red thigh muscles of both study groups showed the following: pH – 5.4-5.8; boiling test - clear aromatic broth; reaction with 5% CuSO4 – clear; with Nessler’s reagent – slight turbidity with a yellowish-green tint; benzidine peroxidase test – positive (blue-green colour turning brownish -brown), indicating the absence of ammonia and putrefactive decay products. The results indicate the absence of any negative effect of triphenylphosphonium ethyl carboxylate on the quality of chicken meat under the given growing conditions.