Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation and High Stocking Density on the Performance and Stress Parameters of Broilers

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with vitamin E and stocking density on the mortality, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, European production efficiency factor, heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio and liver glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of broilers. In total, 570 one-dayold Vencobb 400 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to three treatments, with six replicates each. G1 served as normal control and birds were provided a normal floor space (0.0465 m 2 /bird from day 1 to 21 and 0.0929 m 2 /bird from day 22 to 42) and basal diet containing vitamin E at 70 g/ton feed (n=150). G2 and G3 birds were subjected to high stocking density (0.0279 m 2 /bird from day 1 to 21 and 0.0557 m 2 / bird from day 22 to 42). G2 served as the high stocking density (HSD) control, birds were offered a basal diet with no vitamin E (n=210), whereas G3 birds were fed a basal diet containing vitamin E at 70 g/ ton feed (n=210). The birds were fed with feed and water ad libitum throughout the study period. The supplementation of vitamin E to the birds subjected to HSD had a positive effect on body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF), H/L ratio, and liver GSH and MDA levels with those subjected to HSD and not supplemented with vitamin E. The results of the present study indicate that the supplementation of vitamin E at 70g/ton of feed to broilers subjected to HSD could effectively reverse the negative effects of HSD, and improve broiler performance.

Evaluation of polyherbal formulation and synthetic choline chloride on choline deficiency model in broilers: implications on zootechnical parameters, serum biochemistry and liver histopathology

“…House relative humidity was maintained between 40% and 70% throughout the study period. Lighting was provided 24 h daily during the first 3 days, 23 h light and 1 h darkness between days 4 and 7 and 20 h light and 4 h of darkness till day 42 [ 25 ]. The chicks were vaccinated against Marek’s disease immediately after hatching.…”

“…The chlorinated potable drinking water (Innoclean, Natural Remedies Pvt Ltd., 1 tablet/500 L) and poultry mash feed manufactured as per NRC [ 5 ] by Higain Feeds & Farms India Pvt Ltd., Bangalore were provided ad libitum ( Tables 1 , 2 ). All birds were vaccinated against Newcastle disease (LaSota strain) and infectious bursal disease by eye drops on days 5 and 14, respectively [ 25 ].…”

“…The body weight (BW) of individual birds was recorded on day 1 and thereafter on days 21 and 40 or 42. Feed consumption was calculated by subtracting the amount of leftover feed from the total amount of feed offered per replicate in a group, and it was measured on days 21 and 40 or 42 [ 25 ]. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated as feed intake divided by BW.…”

Effects of stocking density and dietary vitamin C on performance, meat quality, intestinal permeability, and stress indicators in broiler chickens

“…However, high SD has been frequently associated with decreased productive performance and health of broiler chickens [3]. Several studies have been performed to develop dietary interventions that alleviate the negative impacts of high SD on broiler chickens [4,5,6]; however, the results are not promising.…”

Effect of age and different doses of dietary vitamin E on breast meat qualitative characteristics of finishing broilers

“…In poultry farming, there are many stressing factors that influence the growth and productive performance of broiler chickens, such as thermal and nutritional stress, overcrowding, invasive procedures like vaccination and pecking ( Selvam et al., 2017 ), pre-slaughter handling, transportation and slaughter ( Petracci et al., 2010 ). Carcass yield and meat quality, for example, are directly affected by these stressing factors, but formulation strategies regarding the use of antioxidants and supplementation of Vitamin E on broiler diets can be applied in order to improve the chicken immune system and improve meat quality ( Barroeta, 2007 ; Lu et al., 2014 ).…”