Ever since the European ban on use of in‐feed antibiotics in food animals, the search for alternate antibiotic‐free growth promoter is undertaken worldwide. There are few alternatives such as probiotics, pre‐biotics, phytochemicals, enzymes and organic acids. Among these alternatives, the organic acids or simply acidifiers play an important role in gut health in animals. The acidifiers could be used to favourably manipulate the intestinal microbial populations and improve the immune response, hence perform an activity similar to antibiotics in food animals in countering pathogenic bacteria. Acidifiers also improve the digestibility of nutrients and increase the absorption of minerals. The incorporation of organic acids also leads to thinning of the intestinal lining which facilitates better absorption of nutrients and its efficient utilization. However, their effect will not be similar among all types of organic acids as their mechanism of activity is based on its pKa value. Moreover, there are claims about the neutralization of acids by the secretion of bicarbonates in the initial part of intestine, reactivity with metallic items in feed mills and reduced palatability due its bitter taste demands non‐reactive and targeted delivery for better performance. Currently, coated salts of acidifiers are available commercially for use in food animals especially pigs and poultry. The present review highlights the role of different acidifiers in livestock nutrition with their potent applications in improving nutrient digestibility, mineral utilization, meat quality, enhancing immunity, antimicrobial effects in countering pathogenic bacteria, boosting performance and production, and thus safeguarding health of livestock animals and poultry.

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Background: Artificial Insemination (AI) has been well established to obtain better fertility than natural mating. Semen extension and preservation play a major role in AI technique. The concentrated nature of chicken semen entails dilution of semen for easy handling and storage. With the availability of a wide range of extenders, exploring various extenders and dilution rates supplement the reproductive efficiency achieved through modern AI techniques.Methods: Pooled semen samples obtained from twenty White Leghorn breeder males were split equally into three portions, each for CARI poultry semen diluent, EK extender and Tselutin extender. At 1:2 dilution rate, the samples were subjected to sperm motility analysis from 0 to 96 h and AI was targeted at 0 and 24 h of semen collection. Fertility was assessed by candling of eggs collected from 2 to 8 days post insemination at 9th day of incubation. Further investigation of different dilution rates (1:2, 1:4, 1:6, 1:8, 1:10, 1:12, 1:14, 1:16, 1:18, 1:20) on fertility of fresh semen was done using the superior diluent.Result: Upon analysis, sperm motility showed no significant difference among the diluents at 0 h storage while CARI poultry semen diluent showed superior motility (%) at the subsequent storage periods, followed by EK and Tselutin extender. Higher fertility (p less than 0.05) was expressed in the diluents of CARI and EK at 0 h storage, whereas CARI poultry semen diluent showed superior fertility pattern (p less than 0.05) followed by EK and least by Tselutin extender at 24 h semen storage. Further investigation of different dilution rates using CARI diluent, exhibited fertility (p less than 0.05) of 90% and higher at 1:2 and 1:4 dilutions, followed by 1:6 and 1:8 at 2 to 6 days of fertile period.

Livestock has played an indispensable role in the Indian economy. Animal husbandry is culturally and economically integrated into the society. Livestock is a source of protein, livelihood and draught power. Diverse enterprises like Apiculture, Sericulture, and Pisciculture have been reared traditionally for many years. Indigenous stock has higher resistant to diseases and can better adapt to climate change. They act as a buffer to crop failure and sudden monetary losses. Rearing a wide variety of animals like yaks, camels and Mithun apart from cattle, sheep and goat are unique characteristics of animal husbandry in India. Technological backwardness, financial constraints, and inadequate veterinary services are few issues that hinder the progress in the sector.

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