ABSTRACT
Effects of water supplements, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), potassium chloride (KCl) and acetic acid were evaluated on the performance and immune system of chronically heat-stressed broiler chicks. Two hundred day old broiler chicks were allotted to one of the four groups (n = 50); 1) control [no supplements], 2) NaHC03, 0.5%, 3) KCl, 0.15% and 4) acetic acid, 1.5 mL/Liter. All chicks were kept in a controlled environmental chamber maintained at 33±2oC from day one to 6 weeks (wks) of age. Significantly higher weight gains coincided with decreased feed conversion ratios for all the supplemented groups as compared to control group at 2, 4 and 6 wks of age. Bursal index, percentage weights of thymus and spleen in relation to body weight and natural agglutinin levels, an indicator of humoral immunity were higher but the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio, an indicator of stress was lower for the supplemented groups as compared to control group. Total aerobic spore formers and Enterobactraecae counts in the intestinal swab samples were higher in control group than supplemented groups. Intestinal pH was lower at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of age but water consumption at 5 and 6 wks of age tended to be higher in acetic acid treated group as compared to other groups. Overall, the results indicated significant improvement in the performance and immune response of chronically heat-stressed broiler chicks given the water supplements, acetic acid being slightly superior to NaHCO3 and KCl.
PDF References Citation
How to cite this article
A.M. Hassan, H. May AbdelAzeem and P.G. Reddy, 2009. Effect of Some Water Supplements on the Performance and Immune System of Chronically Heat-Stressed Broiler Chicks. International Journal of Poultry Science, 8: 432-436.
DOI: 10.3923/ijps.2009.432.436
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijps.2009.432.436
DOI: 10.3923/ijps.2009.432.436
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijps.2009.432.436
REFERENCES
- Ait-Boulahsen, A., J.D. Garlich and F.W. Edens, 1989. Effect of fasting and acute heat stress on body temperature, blood acid base balance and electrolytes status in chickens. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 94: 683-687.
PubMed - Balnave, D. and I. Gorman, 1993. A role of sodium bicarbonate supplements for growing broilers at high temperatures. World Poult. Sci. J., 94: 236-241.
CrossRefDirect Link - Bartlett, J.R. and M.O. Smith, 2003. Effect of different levels of zinc on the performance and immunocompetence of broilers under heat stress. Poult. Sci., 82: 1580-1588.
Direct Link - Borges, S.A., A.V.F. da Silva, A. Majork, D.M. Hooge and K.R. Cummings, 2004. Physiological responses of broiler chickens to heat stress and dietary electrolyte balance (Sodium plus potassium minus chloride, milliequivalents per kilogram). Poult. Sci., 83: 1551-1558.
CrossRefDirect Link - Chaveerach, P., D.A. Keuzenkamp, L.J. Lipman and F. van Knapen, 2004. Effect of organic acids in drinking water for young broilers on Campylobacter infection, volatile fatty acid production, gut microflora and histological cell changes. Poult. Sci., 83: 330-334.
CrossRefDirect Link - Farrell, D.J. and S. Swain, 1977. Effects of temperature treatments on the energy and nitrogen metabolism of fed chickens. Br. Poult. Sci., 18: 735-748.
CrossRefPubMedDirect Link - Gibbens, J., S.J.S. Pascoe, S.J. Evans, R.H. Davies and A.R. Sayers, 2001. A trial of biosecurity as a means to control Campylobacter infection of broiler chickens. Prev. Vet. Med., 48: 85-99.
CrossRefPubMedDirect Link - Gross, W.B. and H.S. Siegel, 1983. Evaluation of the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio as a measure of stress in chickens. Avian Dis., 27: 972-979.
CrossRefPubMedDirect Link - Gross, W.B. and H.S. Siegel, 1983. Evaluation of the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio as a measure of stress in chickens. Avian Dis., 27: 972-979.
CrossRefPubMedDirect Link - Hester, P.Y., W.M. Muir, J.V. Craig and J.L. Albright, 1996. Group selection for adaptation to multiple-hen cages: Hematology and adrenal function. Poult. Sci., 75: 1295-1307.
PubMed - Jin, L.Z., Y.W. Ho, N. Abdullah and S. Jalaludin, 1998. Growth performance, intestinal microbial populations and serum cholesterol of broilers fed diets containing Lactobacillus cultures. Poult. Sci., 77: 1259-1265.
CrossRefPubMedDirect Link - Kadim, I.T., B.H.A. Al-Qamshui, O. Mahgoub, W. Al-Marzooqi and E.H. Johnson, 2008. Effect of seasonal temperatures and ascorbic acid supplementation on performance of broiler chickens maintained in closed and open-sided houses. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 7: 655-660.
CrossRefDirect Link - Kapperud, G., E. Skjerve, L. Vik, K. Hauge and A. Lysaker et al., 1993. Epidemiological investigation of risk factors for campylobacter colonization in Norwegian broiler flocks. Epidemiol. Infect., 111: 245-255.
PubMed - Keskin, E. and Z. Durgun, 1997. Effects of supplemental NaHCO3 KCL, CaCL2, NH4CL and CaSO4, on acid base balance, weight gain and feed intake in Japanese quails exposed to constant chronic heat stress. Pak. Vet. J., 17: 60-64.
Direct Link - Lopez, R.B. and R.E. Austic, 1993. The effect of selected minerals on the acid base balance of growing chicks. Poult. Sci., 72: 1054-1062.
Direct Link - Naseem, M.T., S. Naseem, M. Younus, C.Z. Iqbal, A. Ghafoor, A. Aslam and S. Akhter, 2005. Effect of potassium chloride and sodium bicarbonate supplementation on thermotolerance of broilers exposed to heat stress. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 4: 891-895.
CrossRefDirect Link - Puvadolpirod, S. and J.P. Thaxton, 2000. Model of physiological stress in chicken. 1. Response parameters. Poult. Sci., 79: 363-369.
PubMed - Rahmani, H.R. and W. Speer, 2005. Natural additives influence the performance and humoral immunity of broilers. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 4: 713-717.
CrossRefDirect Link - Sharma, J.M., 1997. The structure and function of the avian immune system. Acta Vet. Hung., 45: 229-238.
PubMed - Teeter, R.G., M.O. Smith, F.N. Owens, S.C. Arp, S. Sangiah and J.E. Breazile, 1985. Chronic heat stress and respiratory alkalosis: Occurrence and treatment in broiler chicks. Poult. Sci., 64: 1060-1064.
PubMed