Ascorbic Acid Supplementation: Effects on the Growth and Packed Cell Volume of Broiler Chickens

This study was conducted to observe the effect of natural and artificial ascorbic acid supplementation on the growth and packed cell volume using broiler chicks. The chicks were divided into groups A, B, C and D. They were fed with the same quantity of feed but different type of ascorbic acid in a litre of water were also administered to groups B to D. Group A which served as the control group received no ascorbic acid and groups B was given 150 g of natural and 150 g of artificial ascorbic acid per litre of water, C received 300 g of natural and 300 g artificial ascorbic acid while D was given 300 g of artificial ascorbic acid per litre of water. The result of the supplement effects on the birds showed that birds feed with natural ascorbic acid recorded the highest weight gain 1.22 kg followed by those feed with mixture of natural and artificial ascorbic acid 1.09kg. Birds that were feed artificial ascorbic acid recorded a weight gain of 0.89 kg while the control group produced the least weight gain of 0.79 kg. The mixture of natural and artificial ascorbic acid proved to be most effective on PCV 21.23, followed by that of artificial ascorbic acid 18.1. Whereas control group recorded a PCV level of 12.84 natural ascorbic acid recorded the least PCV level of 9.93. The result of the experiment indicated that natural ascorbic acid elevated body weight while mixture of natural and artificial ascorbic acid boosted PCV in broiler when given in the right proportion. Keywords: ascorbic acid; packed cell volume; supplementation; natural; artifici