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Effect of Seasonal Temperatures and Ascorbic Acid Supplementation on Performance of Broiler Chickens Maintained in Closed and Open-Sided Houses

2008; Asian Network for Scientific Information; Volume: 7; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3923/ijps.2008.655.660

1994-7992

I.T. Kadim, B.H.A. Al-Qamshui, O. Mahgoub, Waleed Al‐Marzooqi, Eugene H. Johnson,

Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock

The efficacy of ascorbic acid in drinking water on performance of broiler chickens under closed and open-sided houses during hot (ambient temperature 36 C) and cool (ambient temperature 23 C) seasons o o were studied. The temperatures inside the poultry houses were 26 C (closed), 29 C (open-sided), 32 C o o o housed in each closed and open-sided environment for each season. Birds were maintained under 23 hrs light and 1 hr dark cycle and offered ad libitum access water and feed. Broilers in both houses were randomly subjected to four drinking water treatments (9 birds in each 6 replicates/treatment): 0, 100, 200 and 300 ppm ascorbic acid. Feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and rectal temperatures were recorded weekly. Ascorbic acid supplementation at 200-300 ppm was associated with a reduction in rectal temperatures during the hot season. Open-sided house depressed body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) during hot season. Compared to the control group, ascorbic acid improved feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio by 6%, 9% and 3% (cool season) and 8%, 11% and 5% (hot season). Birds supplemented with 200 ppm ascorbic acid had (P < 0.05) higher feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio than the control group during the cool season, while 300 ppm (P < 0.05) improved broiler performance including feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio during the hot season. Bird's rectal temperature was higher (P < 0.05) during hot season in open-sided house and (P < 0.05) reduced by supplementing 200-300 ppm ascorbic acid. This study demonstrated that seasonal temperatures had a significant effect on broiler performance in open-sided house. Supplementation of drinking water with 200-300 ppm ascorbic acid ameliorated broiler performance in open-sided housing at high ambient temperatures.