Comparing the Effect of Adding Local Anemone coronaria Flower Powder and Vitamin C on the Physiological Characteristics and Antioxidant Status of Laying Hens Exposed to Heat Stress in Summer

Abstract

The addition of local Anemone coronaria flower powder and vitamin C to the feed and its effect on the physiological characteristics and antioxidant status of laying hens raised in the summer and exposed to heat stress was studied. The study was conducted in the poultry fields/ College of Agriculture/ University of Kirkuk for (84) days for the period from 9/7/2023 until 30/9/2023, which included a (14) day preparatory period, using in the study (120) Lohmann Brown birds at the age of (30) weeks. The birds were randomly distributed into (6) treatments with (5) replicates for each replicate (4) birds, where the treatment was T1: basal diet free of any additives, T2: basal diet with adding 250 mg/kg of vitamin C, T3: basal diet with adding 2 g/kg of Anemone coronaria flower powder, T4: basal diet with adding 4 g/kg of Anemone coronaria flower powder, T5: basal diet with adding 2 g/kg of Anemone coronaria flower powder and 250 mg/kg of vitamin C, T6: basal diet with adding 4 g/kg of Anemone coronaria flower powder and 250 mg/kg of vitamin C, Statistical analysis of the results of the study showed, at a significant level (P≤0.01), that there were significant differences. The highest concentration of uric acid was recorded in treatment T1 (7.2) mg/dL and the lowest concentration in treatment T6 (1.8) mg/dL. As for glucose, treatment T1 recorded the highest concentration (225.6) mg/dL and the lowest concentration in treatment T6 (208.4) mg/dL. As for cholesterol, treatment T1 had a concentration of (142.4) mg/dL and the lowest concentration in treatments T5 and T6 (85.4). and 76.6 mg/dL, respectively. No significant differences were observed in total protein concentration between the treatments. As for antioxidants, glutathione (GSH) recorded the highest concentration in treatment T6 (5.11) µmol /L and the lowest concentration in treatment T1 (0.35) µmol /L. As for malondialdehyde (MDA), its lowest concentration was recorded in treatment T6 (0.98) µmol/L. It is noted from the results of the experiment that the additions of Anemone coronaria flower powder and vitamin C led to a reduction in the effects of heat stress that affects birds when they are exposed to high temperatures in the summer, and thus the positive effect was clear on the improvement of physiological characteristics and the state of antioxidants, and thus an improvement in the health of the birds.