SUMMARY
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary citric acid (CA) on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four groups (n=60) and reared for a period of 42 days. The drinking water of groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 was supplemented with 0%, 0.50%, 1% or 1.50% CA. At the age of 42 days, 10 birds from each group were slaughtered. The results indicated that birds with CA additions were heavier compared with control birds (P<0.05). Feed consumption was improved (P<0.05) in birds of the CA groups. Citric acid supplementation did not have a significant effect (P>0.05) mortality of broiler chickens. We observed higher (P<0.05) breast, liver, gizzard and small intestine percentage in the groups that were added CA. Thick percentage and carcass yield were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments. Significant reduction (P<0.05) in abdominal fat weight was found with increased level of citric acid in drinking water. It may, therefore, be concluded that the addition of 1.50% CA in drinking water has most effective effect in broiler chickens fattening.