EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTAL L-CARNITINE AND ASCORBIC ACID ON PERFORMANCE, CARCASS COMPOSITION AND PLASMA L-CARNITINE CONCENTRATION OF BROILER CHICKS REARED UNDER DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE

Birds are normally able to synthesize adequate amounts of ascorbic acid (AA). However, there are many indications that under stress they cannot produce enough AA for their metabolic needs. In particular, heat stress has been implicated in increasing birds’ demand for AA (Scott, 1975; Sykes, 1978; Coates, 1984). These reports suggest that conditions may exist in which endogenous AA synthesis of birds is not adequate to meet the physiological needs for optimum performance and that during such conditions exogenous supplementation with AA could be beneficial. This study was conducted to determine if dietary supplemental AA would alleviate heat-induced deterioration in performance and metabolism of broiler chicks and also to characterize the changes in body temperature, thyroid weight and blood components as affected by supplemental AA and/or heating.

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Self-selection of ascorbic acid in coloured foods by heat-stressed broiler chicks

Physiology & Behavior ◽

10.1016/0031-9384(93)90017-a ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 103-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

H.R Kutlu ◽

J.M Forbes

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Self Selection ◽

Selection Of

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Research Note: Corticosterone Implants and Supplemental Dietary Ascorbic Acid Effects on Lipid Metabolism in Broiler Chicks

Poultry Science ◽

10.3382/ps.0671356 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 67 (9) ◽

pp. 1356-1359 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

I. KAFRI ◽

R.W. ROSEBROUGH ◽

J.P. McMURTRY ◽

N.C. STEELE

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Research Note ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Ascorbic Acid Effects

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Growth, Carcass Composition, Haematology and Immunity of Broilers Supplemented with Sumac Berries (Rhus coriaria L.) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10030513 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 513

Author(s):

Amir Ahmadian ◽

Alireza Seidavi ◽

Clive J. C. Phillips

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Resistance ◽

Production Systems ◽

Carcass Composition ◽

High Density Lipoproteins ◽

Thymus Vulgaris ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Growth Promoters ◽

Rhus Coriaria ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

Higher Doses

Alternatives to antibiotics as growth promoters for broilers could reduce bacterial resistance to antibiotics, while at the same time maintaining growth and improving carcass composition. We investigated the benefits of adding the medicinal plants sumac and thyme at 1, 2 or 3% of the diet for male Ross broiler chicks, with four replicates of ten birds in each treatment group and a Control. Feed intake was reduced for chickens fed the sumac supplements, and, at the two higher doses, defeathered body weight was also reduced. Abdominal fat was reduced by 41% in chickens fed thyme and 62% in those fed sumac. This reflected reduced low density lipoproteins in their blood, and in higher dose thyme treatments and all sumac treatments, reduced high density lipoproteins in blood. Apart from this, there was little effect of the supplements on carcass composition. Blood glucose was reduced in the supplemented chickens. There was evidence of higher antibody titers to Newcastle disease and influenza in supplemented chickens. It is concluded that both thyme and sumac offer potential to reduce fat content and improve disease responsiveness in broiler production systems.

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