Vitamin C and electrolyte supplementation to support growth and meat yield of broilers in a hot humid environment

The study was aimed at determining the effects of Vitamin C and electrolyte on growth and meat yield of broilers in a hot humid environment. A total of 60 straight run day old Cobb 500 broilers were reared up to 35 days of age and fed ad libitum on a starter diet up to 12 days and thereafter, on a grower diet. The broilers were divided into 4 treatment groups. One group (15 broilers) without Vitamin C and electrolyte supplementation was considered as control. In other three groups were provided 135ppm Vitamin C, 1250ppm electrolyte and 135ppm Vitamin C + 1250ppm electrolyte in drinking water respectively as supplement. Feed intake, body weight, feed conversion and survivability were similar in broilers that received different levels of Vitamin C and electrolyte supplementation in drinking water. Feed cost per broiler and per kg broiler increased due to the addition of Vitamin C and electrolyte. Dressing yield, breast meat, total meat and wing meat were (P<0.05) higher in broilers that received Vitamin C in drinking water than those of control, electrolyte and Vitamin C + electrolyte supplemented groups. No differences (P>0.05) were found in breast: dark meat, thigh meat, drumstick meat and abdominal fat which could be attributed to either Vitamin C or electrolyte supplementation. It implies that deficiency of Vitamin C may be related to reduce meat yield of broilers in a hot humid environment. However, further experiment using several doses of Vitamin C with large number of broilers may be conducted to confirm the appropriate doses of supplementation

Effect of Phytase and Carbohydrase on Utilization of Parboiled Rice Polish for the Growth of Broilers

A total of 192 d-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were fed ad libitum up to 42 d of 16 isonitrogeneous and isocaloric diets of different combination levels of phytase (0, 750, 1000 and 1250FYT/kg) (FYT=Feed Grade Yield Treatment Unit) and carbohydrase (0, 80, 100 and 120ppm/kg) for a better utilization of parboiled rice polish (PRP) in broiler diet. The growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, survivability, meat yield and profitability increased almost linearly by using increased levels of mixed enzymes in PRP based diets. Therefore, it was concluded that it is feasible to reduce grain by using abundant PRP in ration with the supplementation of phytase and carbohydrase, and this treatment may be an efficient and economic way to improve performance of broiler as well as profitability

Efeito da restrição alimentar inicial e da temperatura ambiente sobre o desenvolvimento de vísceras e ganho compensatório em frangos de corte Effect of early quantitative feed restriction and environmental temperature on viscera growth and compensatory gain of broiler chickens

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o efeito da restrição alimentar quantitativa inicial e da temperatura ambiente sobre o desenvolvimento de vísceras e ganho compensatório em frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 540 frangos machos, em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, segundo esquema fatorial 2 x 3, com os fatores programa alimentar (ad libitum e restrito do 7° ao 14° dia de idade) e temperatura ambiente (quente, termoneutra e fria). A restrição alimentar não afetou o peso relativo do fígado e do coração, mas reduziu significativamente o peso e o comprimento dos intestinos ao final do período de restrição (14 dias de idade). Não foi observado efeito significativo da restrição alimentar sobre o desenvolvimento das vísceras estudadas aos 42 dias de idade. Peso vivo, ganho de peso e consumo de ração dos frangos com restrição alimentar foram significativamente menores aos 28 dias de idade, porém não foram observadas diferenças entre essas variáveis aos 42 dias de idade, demonstrando ganho compensatório durante o período de realimentação. O peso relativo das vísceras não foi afetado pela temperatura de criação aos 42 dias de idade, exceto o coração. Consumo de ração, ganho de peso e peso vivo aos 42 dias de idade foram significativamente menores nas aves mantidas em altas temperaturas.<br>The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of feed restriction and environmental temperature on viscera development and compensatory gain of broiler chickens. Five hundred and forty male chickens were used, in a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement 2×3 (two feeding programs - ad libitum and feed restriction from 7 to 14 days) and three environmental temperatures - hot, thermoneutral and cold), Feed restriction did not affect the liver and heart relative weight, but significantly decreased intestine weight and length by the end of restriction period (14 days of age). No significant differences were observed between feeding program for viscera relative weight at 42 days of age. Broiler early restrictedly fed showed lower body weight, body weight gain and feed consumption at 28 days, but no differences were found among these variables at 42 days, as a consequence of the compensatory gain during the refeeding period. The viscera relative weights were not affected by environmental temperature at 42 days, except the heart. Birds growing in high environmental temperatures had lower feed consumption, body weight and body weight gain at 42 days of age