Submit Manuscript

International Journal of Poultry Science

Year: 2009 | Volume: 8 | Issue: 5 | Page No.: 432-436
Facebook Twitter Digg Reddit Linkedin StumbleUpon E-mail
Research Article

Effect of Some Water Supplements on the Performance and Immune System of Chronically Heat-Stressed Broiler Chicks

A.M. Hassan, H. May AbdelAzeem and P.G. Reddy

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

Search

REFERENCES

  1. 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
  2. Andreatti, R.L.F., E.S. Nepomuceno, R.R. Aldemir, K. Nancy and P.C. Roberto, 2000. Use of anaerobic cecal microflore, lactose and acetic acid for the protection of broiler chicks against experimental infection with Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritides. Braz. J. Microbiol., 31: 107-112.
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Bonsembianate, M., G.M. Chiericato and L. Bailoni, 1988. The effect of sodium bicarbonate on the performance of broilers subjected to temperature and humidity stress. Poult. Absts, 15: 1000-1000.
  7. 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
  8. Cruickshank, R., J.P. Duguid, B.P. Mariom and R.H.A. Swain, 1975. Medical Microbiology the Practice of Medical Microbiology. 12th Edn., Churchill Livingstone, London, New York.
  9. 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
  10. Furlan, R.L. and M. Macari, 2002. Termorregulacao. In: Fisiologia Aviaria: Aplicada a Frangos de Corte, Macari, M., R.L. Furlan and E. Gonzales (Eds.). 2nd Edn., Funep, Jaboticabal, pp: 209-230.
  11. Giambrone, J.J., M. Partadiredja, C.S. Eidson, S.H. Kleven and R.D. Wyatt, 1978. Interaction of aflatoxin with infectious bursal disease virus infection in young chickens. Avian Dis., 22: 431-439.
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. Kutlu, H.R., 1996. Effects of feeding on performance of broiler chicks exposed to heat stress. Farmavet. Bull., 3: 1-8.
  21. Laiken, N.D. and D.D. Fantesil, 1985. Potassium Balance and the Regulation of Potassium Excretion. In: Best and Taylor`s Physiological Basis of Medical Practical, West, J.B. (Ed.). 11th Edn., Williams and Willkins, Baltimore, MD., pp: 532-536.
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. Puvadolpirod, S. and J.P. Thaxton, 2000. Model of physiological stress in chicken. 1. Response parameters. Poult. Sci., 79: 363-369.
    PubMed
  25. Radostits, O.M., C.C. Gay and D.C. Blood, 1994. Veterinary Medicine: A Text Book of the Diseases of Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Goats and Horses. 8th Edn., Bailliere and Ttindal, London, UK.
  26. 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
  27. Sharma, J.M., 1997. The structure and function of the avian immune system. Acta Vet. Hung., 45: 229-238.
    PubMed
  28. Siegel, P.B., 1989. Stress and immunity. Proceeding of the 14th National Meeting on Poultry Health and Condemnations, (NMPHC`89), Maryland, College Park, MD., pp: 157-160.
  29. Smith, M.O. and R.G. Teeter, 1987. Potassium balance of the 5-8 week old broiler exposed to constant heat or cycling high temperature stress and the effects of supplemental potassium chloride on body weight gain and feed efficiency. Poult. Sci., 66: 478-492.
  30. Suk, Y.O. and K.W. Washburn, 1995. Effects of environment on growth, efficiency of feed utilization, carcass fatness and their association. Poult. Sci., 74: 285-296.
  31. 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

Search

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *