scholarly journals EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL ASCORBIC ACID AND DISTURBANCE STRESS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 55-58
Author(s):  
C. D. TULEUN ◽  
P. C. NJOKU

The study was conducted with four hundred day-old Anak broilers to determine the effects of dietary Ascorbic acid (AA) and disturbance (D) stress on the performance of broiler chickens in a tropical environment. There were four treatments consisting of two levels of disturbance (ID) and (4D) and two levels of dietary AA (0 and 250mgAA/kg feed). Each treatment was replicated four times with 25 chicks per replicate. The starter and finisher diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Results showed that there were no significant interactions between dietary ascorbic acid supplementation and disturbance stress levels on any of the performance data considered. The disturbance stress had no significant effects on most of the measured parameters. However, there was # 35% increase in mortality rate as disturbance stress level increased from D to 4D. The dietary ascorbic acid supplementation level had no significant effect on feed intake and weight gain. Feed conversion ratios were significantly improved with AA supplementation during the starter phase only. Dietary AA supplementation also had a 90% reduction in mortality of chicks compared with the supplemented group. Likewise AA inclusion in diets had a feed cost advantage. It may be concluded that disturbance induced stress increased mortality and lowered performance. However these effects were relieved by dietary AA supplementation. 

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 132-138
Author(s):  
E. Opoola

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of silicon oxide in broiler chickens drinking water on performance and litter quality. A total of 120, one-day old mixed sex broiler chicks were randomly divided into 4 treatments and 3 replications, with 10 birds in each replicate in a completely randomised experimental design, with 4 silicon levels (0.00, 1.50, 2.00 and 2.50 mg of silicon oxide/litre of water. Corn-soya based diets were formulated at the starter (0–4 weeks) and finisher (5–8weeks) phases and were supplied ad libitum with free access to water. The average daily temperature and relative humidity inside the poultry house were 35.9 °C and 36%, respectively. At the starter phase, chicks administered 2.00mg silicon oxide/litre of water had significantly (p<0.05) higher final body weight (991.00g) and average weight gain (950.96g) compared to chicks without silicon oxide 778.57 g and 738.54g. The inclusion of 2.00 mg silicon oxide/litre of water improved feed conversion ratio compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and significantly reduced feed cost per kg gain. For the finisher phase, chickens administered 2.00mg silicon oxide/litre of water had the best results for final weight, weight gain and feed cost per kg gain. Also, inclusion of silicon oxide in broiler chickens water improved litter quality as predominantly dry material but with some areas of wet shavings was observed. In conclusion, silicon oxide in broiler chickens drinking water at 2.00mg/litre of water enhanced growth performance, improved feed conversion ratio and litter quality as well as reduced feed cost per kg gain at the starter and finisher phases respectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-170
Author(s):  
N. G. Dialoke ◽  
P. A. Onimisi ◽  
M. Afolayan

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the performance, serum, lipid, haematology and economic indices of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with different levels of Chestnut (Castenea sativa) phytobiotic as a replacement for antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). A total of 300, oneday-old cobb 500 broiler chicks were allotted in a completely randomized design to five dietary treatments each replicated thrice, with 20 chicks per replicate. Chestnutphytobiotics was included at 0, 100, 125 and 150g/100 Kg diet while Oxytetracycline was included at 111g/100kg diet. Data was collected on growth performance, haematology, serum biochemical parameters, lipid profiles and economic indices. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and significant differences among treatment means were compared using the Duncan's Multiple Range Test of significance. At the end of the starterphase, result showed that chicks placed on 100g phytobiotics diet had significantly (P<0.05) high final weight and weight gain than other supplemented diets and control. There was significant (P<0.05) differences in the feed conversion ratio. Feed cost per kilogram gain was significantly lower in chicks fed control diet, followed by phytobiotics, however higher feed cost per kilogram gain was recorded for chicks fed diet containing Oxytetracycline. Weight gain was significantly (P < 0.05) higher on oxytetracycline based diet (1783.2g) for finisher phase however, there was an improved values for chicks placed on phytobiotics. Glucose (206.51mg/dL) was significantly higher in treatment diet that contained oxytetracycline. Haematological indices showed that values for white blood cell (91.90x103/μL) and Heterophils (20.63%) were significantly higher in diets containing oxytetracycline than other treatment groups. Values for red blood cell, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils were significantly (P<0.05) higher in broiler chickens fed diets containing 100g phytobiotics . Chestnut phytobiotics reduced the total cholesterol values from 151.13 - 96.55mg/dL when compared to other treatment groups. There were significant(P<0.05) differences in all the villi morphometry parameters measured except for crypt depth. The mean yield cost decreased as the level of phytobiotics increased. In conclusion, supplementation of Chestnut phytobiotics reduced total cholesterol and significantly improved the final weight, weight gain, feed cost per Kg gain and feed conversion ratio for both starter and finisher at 100g/100Kg. Chestnut phytobiotic is therefore a potential replacement for antibiotic growth promoters.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-187
Author(s):  
R. S. Onabanjo

A study was carried out to determine the effect of Crina Poultry Plus®, a natural blend of essential oils and benzoic acid. on the growth performance, carcass yield and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. Six treatment diets were formulated by the addition of Crina Poultry Plus (CPP®) at 0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6g/kg of feed. Two hundred and forty day-old chicks were allocated to the six dietary treatments with each treatment having four replicates. Each replicate had 10 broilers. The parameters measured were live weight, live weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, protein efficiency ratio, carcass and organ    characteristics, nutrient utilization and feed cost benefit. Results of growth performance showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) across the treatment groups, but birds fed diets supplemented with CPP® had significantly heavier body weight (BW), higher average daily weigh gain live weight gain and similar feed conversion ratio when compared with the control group. The dressing percentage, thigh, drum stick, breast cut and back cut were not significantly (P>0.05) different across the treatment groups but those fed diet supplemented with CPP® had higher values when compared with the control diet. The supplementation of CPP® improved nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens. Birds fed diet containing 0.6g of CPP® had numerically lower cost per kg of weight gained compared to other treatment groups. It can be concluded that the addition of 0.6 g CPP® in broiler diets improved performance, carcass, organ characteristics and nutrient utilization of broilers.


1993 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 237-238
Author(s):  
C. T. Kadzere ◽  
E. Chikosi ◽  
J. Holcroft ◽  
S. Rogers

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