Effect of Ascorbic acid and Yucca Extract Supplementation on the Performance and Hematology of Broiler Chickens Exposed to Heat Stress

Abstract

The experiment was performed by applying different concentration levels of ascorbic acid and yucca extract to assess the production performance of broiler chickens during heat stress. A trial of 300 day-old commercial broiler chicks was carried out on littered floor for a period of 4 weeks. The chicks were randomly allocated into five treatments and each dietary treatment consisted of 4 replicates having 15 chicks in each of the replication. The experimental treatments were follows: T1 (control group without any additives), T2 (1ml YE with 16L drinking water), T3 (200 mg AA per kg feed), T4 (1ml YE with 16L drinking water and 200 mg AA per kg feed) and T5 (1ml YE with 20L drinking water and 150 mg AA per kg feed). The findings revealed that there had significant effects (P<0.05) in body weight gain, feed consumption and FCR value. Among the treatment groups FCR value found better in T4 group. The results also revealed that the treatments had significant effects (P<0.05) in dressed wings, breast, back, thigh, drumstick. However, in treatment T4 group the carcass weight is better than the other treatment groups. The Hemoglobin, WBC, RBC, Neutrophil, Lymphocyte, Monocyte, PCV and MCV was statistically insignificant (P>0.05) among different treatments. In economic aspect, though total expenditure was lower in control group but higher profit per bird was found in other treatment groups. Therefore, this study suggested that the Yucca extract and ascorbic acid perform better in broiler rearing even they are on stressed condition.