Ameliorating Effect of Different Anti-Stressors
on Growth Performance and Immunophysiological Responses in Heat
Stressed Broilers Chickens
Tahreem Asad1, Shahid Mehmood1,
Athar. Mahmud1, Atia Basheer2, Gulbeena Saleem3,
Ahmad Sultan Jatoi1, Jibran Hussain1, Faisal
Husnain1 and Muhammad Younis4
1Department
of Poultry Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,
Lahore
2Department of Livestock Production, University of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
3Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary and
Animal Sciences, Lahore
4College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang,
Pakistan
*Corresponding author:
gulbeena.saleem@uvas.edu.pk
Abstract
This study was conducted to ascertain the effects
of betaine, chia seed, potassium chloride, and vitamin C on growth performance,
immune response and serum biochemistry of broilers chickens reared during hot
(30-37°C) and humid (52-80%) climate. A total of 320 birds were divided into
five treatment groups (A-E) with four replicates, having 16 birds in each. Group
A served as control. Birds in groups B, C, D and E were respectively fed diets
supplemented with betaine (2g/Kg), chia seed (5g/Kg), potassium chloride (2g/Kg)
and vitamin C (600mg/Kg). Daily feed intake and weekly body weights were
recorded. Blood samples were collected at 7th, 17th, 36th and 42nd day for
estimation of Newcastle disease virus titer and at 6th week of age for serum
cholesterol and glucose estimation. Results showed highest (P<0.05) feed intake
and antibody titer against ND in birds supplemented with chia seed. Betaine
supplementation resulted in highest (P<0.05) body weight gain and better FCR.
Supplementation of vitamin C in diet resulted in lower (P<0.05) serum
cholesterol and glucose levels. These findings showed that use of appropriate
feed supplements helped to reduce the deterioration in performance of heat
stressed broilers. Among different anti-stressors used in present study betaine,
chia seed and vitamin C offered better performance in competing negative effects
of heat stress in broiler chickens.
To Cite This Article:
Asad T, Mehmood S, Mahmud A, Basheer A, Saleem G,
Jatoi AS, Hussain J, Husnain F and Younis M, 2019. Ameliorating effect of
different anti-stressors on growth performance, and immunophysiological
responses in heat stressed broilers chickens. Pak Vet J, 39(2): 285-288.
http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2018.066