International Journal of Poultry Science
1682-8356
1994-7992
Asian Network for Scientific Information
10.3923/ijps.2016.432.441
H. Tamzil
M.
K.D. Haryani
N.
Indarsih
B.
11
2016
15
11
Background: Transportation process causes broilers suffer from stress and affects its meat quality. Objective: This study aims to determine the effect of transportation treatment and ascorbic acid supplementation on HSP 70 gene expressions, hematological status and meat quality of broiler chickens. Methodology: The study was designed in a completely randomized design using a unidirectional pattern with 50 female broilers of Lohmann MB 202 aged 5 weeks. The broilers were equally divided into 5 treatments. Treatment 1 was broilers with no ascorbic acid supplementation and transportation treatment as a control 1. Treatment 2 was broilers with no ascorbic acid supplementation but transportation treatment applied ( a control 2). Treatment 3 was broilers supplemented with ascorbic acid at a dose of 360 mg L1 in drinking water for 2 h before being transported. Treatment 4 was broilers supplemented with ascorbic acid at a dose of 360 mg L1 in drinking water for 2 h immediately after being transported. Treatment 5 was broilers with transportation treatment and were supplemented with ascorbic acid at a dose of 360 mg L1 of drinking water for 2 h before and after being transported. The transportation treatment was imposed for 5 h starting from 10:00 am-14:00 pm. Rectal temperatures of all experimental broilers were measured. For birds in T4 and T5, their rectal temperatures were measured again after they were supplemented with ascorbic acid after transportation. Next, blood samples were used to test hematology variables. These were followed by expression measurement of HSP 70 genes and meat quality. All data were tabulated and analyzed with variant analysis and LSMEAN. Results: Transportation treatment was found to increase HSP gene expression, rectal temperature, heterophil percentage, H/L ratio, pH of the meat and water holding capacity of the meat. The transportation treatment also reduced total erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit value, lymphocytes and monocytes. Supplementation of ascorbic acid for 2 h just before the broilers were transported and for 2 h immediately after they were transported decreased HSP 70 gene expression, rectal temperature, pH of the meat and water holding capacity of the meat. The supplementation of ascorbic acid also increased total erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total leukocytes, lymphocytes, heterophils and the ratio of H/L. Conclusion: Supplementation of ascorbic acid 2 h before broilers are transported reduces broilers stress and maintains their meat quality.]]>