Changes in growth and blood parameters in heat-stressed broiler chicks in response to dietary ascorbic acid

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Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to determine whether supplemental ascorbic acid (AA) would alleviate heat-induced deterioration in performance and metabolism of broiler chicks. Day-old female broiler chicks were fed ad lib. on a standard starter feed under either thermoneutral (UH) or heated (H, thermoneutral, heated to 36°C for 6–10 hours per day) conditions to 4 weeks of age. In Experiments 1 and 3 the diet was supplemented with 0, 250, 500 or 1000 mg/kg AA. In Experiment 2, AA was given at 200 mg/kg. In Experiment 1, which started at 7 days of age, heating significantly reduced body growth, feed intake and feed efficiency. AA supplementation, particularly at 250 mg/kg, stimulated growth, intake and efficiency in the H birds but had no significant effect under UH conditions. At both temperatures AA supplementation increased adrenal weight and plasma AA concentration at the end of the experiment. Heating depressed growth, intake, efficiency and adrenal weight in Experiment 2, starting at 1 day of age, while plasma AA levels were increased. AA supplementation increased growth, intake and efficiency of H birds while having no effect under UH conditions. In the third Experiment, starting at 7 days of age, heating reduced growth, intake, efficiency, thyroid weight, and levels of plasma protein, potassium and calcium while increasing body temperature, water intake and plasma glucose, cholesterol and sodium. Under H conditions, AA supplementation alleviated many of these effects, particularly when included at 250 mg/kg. No significant influence was associated with AA supplementation under UH conditions.

These data demonstrate that AA, particularly at 250 mg/kg, ameliorates the heat-induced deterioration in performance and metabolism of broiler chicks. AA supplementation of non-heat-stressed birds tends to reduce performance.

Résumé

Trois expériences ont été réalisées pour déterminer si la supplémentation en acide ascorbique (AA, 200 à 1000 mg/kg) permettait de réduire la baisse des performances et les troubles du métabllisme induits par la chaleur chez le poulet de chair. Des poulettes de chair âgées d'un jour étaient nourries ad libitum avec un aliment de démarrage standard. Elles étaient placées dans des conditions de thermoneutralité (UH) oud de chauffage (H, thermoneutralité, chauff'ees à 36°C pendant 6–10 heures/jour) jusqu'à l'âge de 4 semaines. Dans l'expériences 1, qui débutait à 7 jours d'âge, le chauffage diminuait la vitesse de croissance, la consommation d'aliment et l'efficacité alimentaire. La supplémentation en AA, an particulair à 250 mg/kg, améliorait la croissance, la consommation et l'efficacité alimentaire chez les poulets H, mais n'avait aucun effet dans les conditions UH. Dans l'expérience 2 quie débutait à 1 jour d'âge, le chauffage réduisait la croissance, la consommation, l'efficacité alimentaire et le poids des surrénales, tandis que les niveaux plasmatiques d'AA augmentaient. La supplémentation en AA améliorait la croissance, la consommation et l'efficacité alimentaire chez les poulets H, mais n'avait aucun effet dans les conditions UH. Dans la troisième expérience qui débutait à 7 jours d'âge, le chauffage réduisait la croissance, la consommation, l'efficacité alimentaire, le poids de la thyroïde et les taux plasmatiques de protéines, de potassium et de calcium, mais augmentait la température corporelle, la consommation d'eau et les niveaux plasmatiques de glucose, de cholestérol et de sodium. Dans les conditions H, la supplémentation en AA atténuait plusieurs de ces conséquences. Ces résultats démontrent que l'AA, en particular lorsqu'il est introduit au taux de 250 mg/kg, réduit les baisses de performances et les troubles du métabolisme induits par la chaleur chez le poulet de chair.

Zusammenfassung

Um festzustellen, ob Ascorbinsäure (AS, 200–1000 mg/kg) durch Hitzestress beeinträchitigte Leistung und Stoffwechselvorgänge von Broilerküken aufheben kann, wurden drie Versuche durchgeführt. Weibliche Eintagsküken wurden bis zu einem Alter von 4 Wochen ad libitum mit einem Standard-Startefutter gefüttert, und zwar, sowohl bei thermoneutraler (TN) als auch bei heiβer (T; Temperatur bis 36°C über 6–10 Stunden pro Tag) Umbegung. Im ersten Versuch, welcher bei einem Alter von 1 Woche anfing, rief der Hitzestress eine signifikant Beeinträchtigung von Körpergewicht, Futteraufnahme und Futteraufwand hervor. Die Ergängzung mit AS, insbesondere von 250 mg/kg, erhöhte Wachstum, Aufnahme und Effizienz in der T-Gruppe, zeigte aber keine signifikante Auswirkung in der TN-Gruppe. Unter heiβen Bedingungen waren im Versuch 2 (Beginn bei Eintagsküken) Wachstum, Futteraufnahme und -verwertung sowie das Gewicht der Nebenniere reduziert, während der Plasmaspiegel der AS zugenommen hatte. Die AS-Supplementierung verbesserte das Wachstum, die Futteraufnhame und den Futteraufwand bei heiβer Umgebung (T-Gruppe), nicht aber bei Thermoneutralität (TN-Gruppe). Im dritten Versuch (Küken bei Versuchsbeginn 1 Woche alt) reduzierte der Hitzestress Wachstum, Futteraufnahme und -verwertung, das Schilddrüsengewicht und die Plasmakonzentrationen an Protein, Kalium und Kalzium, während die Körpertemperature, die Wasseraufnahme und die Plasmaspiegle an Glukose, Cholesterin und Natrium erhöht wurden. In der T-Gruppe konnte die AS-Supplementierung viele dieser Effekte aufheben. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen, daβ Ascorbinsäure (AS), insbesondere die 250 mg/kg Dosis, die durch Hitzestress ausgelöste Verschlechterung der Leistung und des Metabolismus von Broilerküken herabsetzten kann.

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