Optimal dietary concentration of vitamin E for alleviating the effect of heat stress on performance, thyroid status, ACTH and some serum metabolite and mineral concentrations in broilers

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Sahin K., KÜÇÜK O., Sahin N., Gursu M.

VETERINARNI MEDICINA, vol.47, no.4, pp.110-116, 2002 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 47 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2002
  • Doi Number: 10.17221/5813-vetmed
  • Journal Name: VETERINARNI MEDICINA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.110-116
  • Keywords: thyroxin, triiodothyronine, chicken, vitamin E, nutrition, heat stress, AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE, E SUPPLEMENTATION, PROTECTIVE ROLE, EGG-PRODUCTION, BLOOD SYSTEM, CHICKENS, THYROXINE, SECRETION, BIOLOGY
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: No

Abstract

An experiment utilizing Cobb-500 male broilers was conducted to evaluate the effects of vitamin E (d1-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) supplementation at various concentrations (0, 62.5, 125, 250, or 500 mg/kg of diet) on performance and serum concentrations of Triiodothyronine (T-3) Thyroxin (T-4) Adrenocorticotropine Hormone (ACTH), and some metabolites and minerals in broilers reared under heat stress (32degreesC). One day-old 150 male broilers were randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups, 3 replicates of 10 birds each. The birds received either a basal diet or basal diet supplemented with vitamin E at 62.5, 125, 250, or 500 mg/kg of diet. Increased supplemental Vitamin E linearly increased feed intake (P = 0.01), live weight gain (P = 0.01), and improved feed efficiency linearly (P = 0.001). Increasing dietary vitamin E supplementation also resulted in linear increases in serum T 3 and T 4 concentrations (P = 0.01) but, linear decreases in ACTH concentration (P = 0.01). Serum glucose, uric acid, triglycerides, and cholesterol concentrations decreased linearly (P = 0.001) while, protein and albumin concentrations increased linearly (P = 0.001) when dietary vitamin E supplementation increased. Serum activities of Serum Glutamic Oxalate Transaminase (SGOT) and Serum Glutamic Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT) were not influenced by dietary vitamin E supplementation (P > 0.10). However, serum activity of Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) increased linearly (P = 0.001) with increasing dietary vitamin E supplementation. Increasing dietary vitamin E supplementation also caused linear increases (P = 0.001) in serum concentrations of Ca and P. Results of the present study conclude that a 250 mg/kg of vitamin E provides an optimal performance in broiler chicks reared under heat stress, and vitamin E supplementation at such a level can be considered as a protective management practice in a broiler diet, reducing the negative effects of heat stress.