Evaluation of aspirin (ASA) in broiler chicken during hot dry summer using zoo technical, molecular and physio-biochemical tools
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of aspirin as anti-heat stressor. Broiler chicks were reared on a standard diet up to 14 days of age. Thereafter, the chicks were randomly distributed into three dietary treatment groups viz., T1 (Control group: Standard diet), T2 (Standard diet with aspirin@250 mg/kg) and T3 (Standard diet with aspirin@500 mg/kg). Each treatment was having five replicates of eight birds per replicate. Experiment was carried out during hot-dry (April-May, 30.0±0.70 to 37.0±1.40C, Rh, %: 58.05±1.32 to 70.11±0.82) summer. Feed intake and live weight gain was comparable among the treatments but FCR, protein and energy efficiency improved significantly (P less than 0.001) on aspirin supplementation. The relative yield of thymus and bursa at 4th and 6th week of age improved significantly (P less than 0.05). The percentage of protein, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) increased significantly (P less than 0.001) due to aspirin supplementation at 4th as well as 6th week of age. While H:L ratio, serum corticosteron and serum cholesterol (only at 42nd day of age) decreased significantly (P less than 0.001) in aspirin supplemented groups at 28th as well as 42nd day of age. Supplementation of aspirin at 500 mg/kg reduced relative expression of HSP70 in jejunum tissues during 28th or 42nd day of age. It can be concluded that aspirin supplementation 500 mg/kg in diet of heat stressed broilers improved performance as well as welfare..