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Vitamin C and Electrolyte Supplementation to Support Growth and Meat Yield of Broilers in a Hot Humid Environment

M. T. Ali
Department of Poultry Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M. A. R. Howlider
Department of Poultry Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

A. K. Azad
Department of Poultry Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M. S. Rahman
Department of Poultry Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

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.

Keywords: Vitamin C, Electrolyte, Broiler growth, Meat yield

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural University poultry farm

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Chicken

Objectives:

The current study was aimed at to investigate the effects of Vitamin C and electrolyte supplementation on growth and meat yield of broilers in a hot humid environment.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University poultry farm, with 60 Cobb 500 straight run day old broilers up to 35 days of age. The chicks were procured from the dealer of Kazi Farms Limited, at Shadeshi Bazar, Mymensingh. Commercial poultry feed Quality Feeds Limited, was brought from Sreepur, Gazipur. They were fed ad libitum on a basal starter diet (containing11% moisture, 245g/kg crude protein, 50g/kg fat, 40g/kg crude fibre, 14g/kg lysine, 6.5g/kg methionine, 12g/kg calcium, 7.5g/kg available phosphorus and 15.11 MJ metabolizable energy) up to 12 days of age. Thereafter, they were fed on a grower diet (containing 11% moisture, 240g/kg crude protein, 50g/kg fat, 40g/kg crude fibre, 14g/kg lysine, 6g/kg methionine, 12g/kg calcium, 7.5g/kg available phosphorus and 14.65 MJ metabolizable energy) on ad libitum basis. Sixty day old broilers were divided into 4 treatment groups having 3 replications in each and 5 chicks per replication. One group of chicks was maintained as control, second group received 135ppm Vitamin C, third group received 1250ppm electrolyte and fourth group received 135ppm Vitamin C + 1250ppm electrolyte respectively as supplement. Four treatments were distributed in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Data were collected on body weight, feed consumption and survivability for each replication. Temperature and relative humidity were recorded every 4 hours. The minimum, maximum and mean of temperature were 24⁰C, 34⁰C and 29⁰C. While the minimum, maximum and mean of relative humidity were 70%, 96% and 83% throughout the experimental period. The body weight gains and feed conversion of broilers in each replication were calculated. At the end of the experiment, 1 male and 1 female broiler weighing average of each replication were selected and slaughtered. The birds were scalded, eviscerated and dissected to determine meat yield following the procedure of Jones (1984). Before statistical analysis, data on all meat yield parameters were converted into percentage of respective live weight. Data were statistically analyzed in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Significant differences among treatments if any were identified using Least Significant Difference (Genstat 5 procedure, 1997).

Source of Information: J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 8(1): 57–60, 2010 ISSN 1810-3030

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From the apparent results, it was concluded that Vitamin C and electrolyte sometimes may not be useful in improving growth performance. The data imply that some improvement in meat yield of broiler may be obtained for the supplementation of Vitamin C in drinking water. In this current study, broilers were sold alive. Therefore, quantification of increased meat yield was not possible. So, further investigation is needed by selling dressed broiler instead of alive.

Knowledge Management: Journal