Effect of vitamin E and C on the growth and immunocompetence of coloured birds during summer
2012
Beura, T.K. | Panda, N. | Mishra, P.K. | Panigrahi, B. | Panda, H.K. | Pati, P.K.
The influence of vitamin E and/or vitamin C supplementation on growth, immunity, carcass traits and lymphoid organs of coloured chicks during summer was studied. Coloured broiler chicks (n=540) divided into 9 treatment groups were fed basal diet with supplementation of vitamin E (250 mg or 500 mg) and vitamin C (250 mg or 500 mg) either alone or in combinations from 056 days of age. The treatment-wise supplementation to the basal diet was, T1: control without supplementation, T2: E 250 mg, T3: E 500 mg, T4: C 250 mg, T5: C 500 mg, T6: E 250 mg+C 500 mg, T7: E 500 mg+C 250 mg, T8: E 250 mg+C 500 mg, T9: E 500 mg+C 500 mg/kg feed. The average highest temperature and relative humidity during the experimental period was 37.98°C and 87.9%, respectively. The growth rate, feed conversion ratio, humoral, cell mediated immunity and carcass characteristics were determined. Higher body weight and better FCR (P0.05) were seen in groups supplemented with both the vitamins i.e. T6, T7, T8 and T9 than individual vitamin supplementated (T2, T3, T4 and T5) and control group; but no effect on feed intake was observed. Better humoral immunity as shown by higher (P0.05) haemagglutination inhibition titre against Newcastle Disease vaccine and against sheep red blood cells and higher cell mediated as reflected by increased (P0.05) cutaneous basophilic hypersensitivity response was seen in T7 (E 500 mg+C 250 mg) and T8 (E 250 mg+C 500 mg), groups. From the results, it was concluded that supplementation of vitamin E @500 mg/kg and C @250 mg/kg in the diet of coloured broilers improved growth performance, increased both celluar and humoral immune response during summer stress.
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