BACKGROUND: Thyme extract has the antimicrobial and antioxidant components that can be useful for the broilers under heat stress condition. OBJECTIVES: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Thymus vulgaris extract in comparison with some common feed additives on performance, blood biochemical parameters and antibody response in broiler chickens under heat stress conditions. METHODS: This study was conducted using 192 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) in a completely randomized design with 8 treatments in 4 replicates and 6 chicks per replicate. Treatments were as follows: 1) basal diet + standard temperature conditions (positive control); 2) basal diet + heat stress conditions (negative control); 3) negative control + 200 mg virginiamycin; 4) negative control + 150 mg Protoxin probiotic, 5) negative control + 250 mg vitamin C, 6) negative control + 250 mg vitamin E, 7) negative control + 250 mg thyme extract, and 8) negative control +500 mg thyme extract per kg diet. RESULTS: Dietary thyme extract at the rate of 500 mg/kg as well as probiotic and vitamin E increased (P<0.05) body weight gain (2202, 2183 and 2199, respectively) and improved feed conversion (1.65, 1.74 and 1.66, respectively) compared with negative control group (body weight gain 1960 g and feed conversion ratio 1.96). Moreover, 500 mg/kg dietary thyme extract, probiotic and vitamin C reduced triglycerides, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein during heat stress conditions (P<0.05). All dietary supplements groups significantly increased antibody titers against red blood cells as compared with negative control. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the results of the present study suggest that thyme extract at the level of 500 mg/kg of diet can be recommended as an alternative to the common feed additives to improve growth performance and health benefits of the heat-stressed broilers.

BACGROUNDS: Heat stress causes the lower performance in broiler chickens. OBJECTIVE: This research was conducted to investigate the effect of betaine supplementation in broiler chickens under heat stress condition. METHODS: Two hundred one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 replicates per treatment and 10 birds per each replicate. The experimental treatments were the heat stressed birds fed the different levels of 0.0 (without any dietary supplement), 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2% betaine. The experimental diets were added to the diets during the finisher period (day 25 to 42 of age) and under heat stress condition (32±1º C from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM). RESULTS: The results showed that feed consumption was not affected by betaine supplementation. Consumption of 0.2% betaine resulted in a higher weight gain during the whole period as compared to 0.05 betaine and control diet (P<0.05). The consumption of all betaine levels caused the decreased feed conversion ratio during the finisher period (P<0.05) and 0.2% betaine resulted in lowest feed conversion ratio between the experimental treatments. Dietary betaine supplementation had no effect on internal organ weights of heart, liver, abdominal fat, spleen and bursa at day 42 of age (P>0.05). Furthermore, consumption of different betaine levels had no effects on blood indices, the amounts of blood enzymes and antioxidant status at day 42 of age (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Totally, the consumption of 0.2% betaine improves the performance without any effects on blood indices and internal organs under heat stress condition.

BACKGROUND: Sheep are a form of investment and a quickly liquidatable resource, particularly in traditional and low income production systems. Tropical and long warm-season regions always affect sheep production negatively. Methods: In this experiment 15 female and 7 male sheep were chosen and their body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate measurements and blood sample for biochemical parameters analysis were taken during May 5 to September 5. Results: Heart rate and respiration rate in male sheep were a little higher compared with female sheep but there was no significant difference between them respiration (56 vs. 55) and beat (120 vs. 118 per min). Rectal temperature wasn’t significant between two sexes (40.6-40.09 C˚). Also skin temperature wasn’t significantly different between two sexes (36.02- 36.08 C˚). The only difference was related to month effect (p<0.05). Sex and month hadn’t significant different effects on blood urea, creatinine, glucose and potassium concentration. Blood urea concentration of female sheep was not significantly higher than male’s (p>0.05). Blood Sodium concentration was significantly different between two sexes so that male sheep had the highest minimum average (p<0.05). There was no significant increase in blood Potassium concentration of female sheep compared to male sheep (p>0.05). ConclusionS: These results indicated that sheep of this region had been well adapted to summer heat stress and they showed usual changes of blood metabolites in response to heat stress.

BACKGROUND: Reducing the protein and amino acid content of diet or altering the dietary electrolyte balance were suggested as the effective strategies to prevent the harmful effects of the heat stress in poultry.OBJECTIVES: This study surveyed the effects of various levels of threonine and dietary cation-anion balance on the broiler chickens under the heat stress conditions.METHODS: 700 one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were used for 6 weeks under high- temperature conditions. This experiment was conducted using a 2 × 3 + 1 factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design, with 7 treatments (5 replicates per treatment and 20 birds per replicate). Experimental factors included two threonine concentrations (recommended level and 10 % above recommended level) and three dietary electrolyte balances (175, 250, and 325 mEq/kg). The control group considered the treatment with a normal threonine concentration (recommended level) and a dietary electrolyte balance of 250 mEq/kg under optimal temperature conditions.RESULTS: Although there was no interaction between threonine level and electrolyte balance, the electrolyte balance of 175 meq/kg increased the performance index compared to the electrolyte balance of 250 or 325 mEq/kg (P<0.05). The villus height to crypt depth ratio and villus surface area in the jejunum improved with an electrolyte balance of 175 or 250 mEq/kg (P<0.05). A decrease in the dietary electrolyte balance increased in the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (P<0.05). Besides, an increase in the population of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the cecum, as well as an increase in protein digestibility, were observed by increasing levels of threonine in the diet (P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, a high level of threonine or a low electrolyte balance in diet (175 mEq/kg) may improve the performance, metabolizable energy, and intestinal microbial flora of broilers reared under heat stress.

BACKGROUND: Optimal levels of minerals in the diet are crucial for improving performance and immune response against the environmental stresses.OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of water supplementation of chelated trace mineral (CTM) on growth performance, hematology, blood biochemistry, antioxidant status, and antibody response in broilers reared under heat stress condition.METHODS: A total of 240 male Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly allocated into one of the following five treatments (each consisting of four replicates): (1) positive control (PC; thermoneutral condition), (2) negative control (NC; heat stress condition), (3) low-CTM (NC + low CTM level in tap water), (4) medium-CTM (NC + medium CTM level in tap water),  and (4) high-CTM (NC + high CTM level in tap water). The CTM levels in the tap water for the low-CTM treatment were 0.1, 0.15, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.45 mg/bird/day on days 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, and 41-50, respectively. The respective values were 1.0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.0, and 4.5 for the medium-CTM, and 10, 15, 30, 40, and 45 mg/bird/day for the high-CTM water.RESULTS: The average weight gain during the whole experimental period in the medium-CTM treatment was higher compared to that in the negative control treatment, but lower than that in the positive control treatment (P<0.05). The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio and total antibody titers against Newcastle disease in the medium-CTM and high-CTM groups were similar to those of the broilers in the PC group, yet better (P<0.05) those of the NC group. The serum superoxide dismutase activity was also higher (P<0.05) in the high-CTM group compared to that of the NC group.CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that the water supplementation of CTM at a moderate level (1.0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.0, and 4.5 mg/bird/day during different rearing periods) could be a strategy to ameliorate the detrimental effects of heat stress in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Heat stress reduces the poultry performance through physiologic changes. OBJECTIVES: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of tryptophane on performance, carcass characteristics and some blood parameters of broiler chickens under heat stress condition. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates (pen), 10 birds in each replicate. The chickens of experimental treatments were fed basal diet (control group) and the diets plus the different levels of 100, 120 and 130 and 140% of the Ross strain tryptophane requirements. The experimental diets were used during the finisher period (day 25 to 42 of age) and under heat stress (32±1 ºC as cyclic from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM). RESULTS: The results showed that the weight gain was  increased linearly by increasing the tryptophane level to 110% of Ross requirements but increasing the tryptophane level to 120, 130 and 140% caused the deteriorated weight gain (p<0.05). The feed conversion ratio was linearly decreased during the finisher and whole the period by supplementation of tryptophane to 110 and 120% but the higher tryptophane levels (130 and 140%) increased the feed conversion ratio during these two periods (p<0.05). Increasing the tryptophane level to 130% of Ross requirements caused a linear increase in the amount of lactate dehydrogenase, alanine amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase (p<0.05). Dietary supplementation of tryptophane had no effect on the blood urea, protein, creatinine, albumin, glucose and cholesterol at day 42 of age but triglyceride (p>0.05). Increasing the tryptophane level to 140% caused the lower blood triglyceride content (p<0.05). CONLUSIONS: Totally, the results of recent experiment show that consumption of 110 and 120% tryptophane of Ross requirements is the best level for performance improvements in broiler chickens under heat stress.

BACKGROUND: Heat stress is very important in poultry production. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of oral elatoninsupplementation and increasing of dark period on biochemical profile of broiler chickens under Heat Stress (HS). ETHODS: A total of 200 day- old broiler (Arian) chicks were randomly allocated in to 4 groups (dark ,melatonin, negative and ositive controls). Melatonin group  received 40 mg melatonin/kg  diet from 30-40 days of age and chickens of dark group were xposed to  a  special lighting schedule from 10-40 days of age. All groups (except negative control) were daily exposed to HS (39± 1 c) for 6 hours per day from 35-40 days of age. At the end of 6 weeks, body weight was measured. At 30, 35, and 40 days, serum uric acid, glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, activity of AST  and creatinine were measured.  atawas analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test in SPSS software. RESULTS: In 30 days, there was no significant difference etween groups. In the day 35, only serum uric acid of melatonin group was significantly increased in comparison with egative control. Also, serum uric acid of melatonin group  increased significantly in 40 days in comparison with other roups, as melatonin plays an important role in the antioxidant defense system and uric acid is an important antioxidant inchickens. Serum glucose of positive control compared to other groups significantly increased in 40 days. Other biochemical parameters were not significant. In this study,the mean body weight of dark group was significantly decreased. The  percentage of mortality rate in negative control, dark, melatonin and positive control  treatments was zero, 4 ,5  and 10% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that  dark period and oral melatonin supplementation  candecrease HS.

BACKGROUND: Inclusion of antioxidant sources in feed or water reduces the detrimental effects of free radicals and increases the antioxidative potential and stability of lipids in heat stressed broiler chicken. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the effect of Satureja khuzistanica essential oils (SkEO) on early postmortem and ultimate pH as well as antioxidative potential of breast muscle in broiler chicken. METHODS: A total number of 720,1-d-old Arian broiler chicks were used in a 42-d trial to examine the effects of six experimental treatments consisting inclusion of 0 (control-), 200, 300, 400, 500 mg/L SkEO and 500 mg/L Polysorbate-80 (control+) in drinking water in six replicates of 20 birds each in a completely randomized blocks design. Catalase enzyme activity (by kinetic method) and glutathione peroxidase as well as superoxide dismutase activities (via Randox® kits) were measured spectrophotometerically. Lipid peroxidation also was measured in breast muscle by a chemical method with thiobarbituric acid. RESULTS: The breast percentage and early as well as ultimate pH of breast muscle was not differ for the birds received SkEO-treated water compared to the control birds (p>0.05). Addition of SkEO in drinking water at doses greater than 200 mg/L significantly decreased the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values in breast muscle of the birds in comparison with the control birds (p<0.05). Catalase activity was significantly higher in breast muscle of the SkEO-treated groups than the control groups (p<0.05). Activity of glutathione peroxidase was significantly greater in the birds given 400 and 500 mg/L SkEO. Addition of SkEO into water up to 400 mg/L increased superoxide dismutase activity in breast muscle of the treated birds compared to the control birds. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that supplementation of drinking water with SkEO elevates the antioxidative potential and increases the lipid stability of breast muscle in heat stressed male broiler chicken.

BACKGROUND: The application of medicinal herbs with high anti-oxidant properties could reduce the detrimental effects of oxidative stress and free radicals under heat stress and improve the performance of broilers. OBJECTIVES: The effects of rosemary powder and extract on growth performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters of broilers were evaluated under heat stress. METHODS: For studying the effect of experimental treatments including control, different levels of rosemary powder (5, 10 and 15 g/kg), rosemary extract (3.5,7 and 10.5 g/kg) and Vit-Asp (1 g/L) on growth performance (feed intake, body weight and feed conversion ratio), carcass characteristics and blood parameters (cholesterol, triglyceride, hematocrit, glucose and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio), 160 one-day old chicks (Ross male-308) were used applying a randomized complete block design with 8 treatments, 4 replicates and 5 chicks per replicate during a 42-day period. Heat stress schedule was 32±2ºC as cyclic from 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM. RESULTS: Rosemary had significant effects on feed intake and final live weight of chicks (p<0.05) but not on feed conversion ratio (p>0.05). Significant effects from rosemary on glucose and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio were found (p<0.05). The effects of rosemary on carcass characteristics, cholesterol, triglyceride and hematocrit were not significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In general, inclusion of rosemary in broilers diet under heat stress improved the performance because of anti-oxidant effects.Keyword: Rosemary, performance, blood parameters, heat stress, broilers