Effect of Adding Rumex vesicarius Powder and Vitamin C to the Diet on Some Productive Characteristics of Broilers Exposed to Heat Stress

Abstract

Abstract The study was conducted in the poultry field at the Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture / University of Kufa, from September 24th to October 28th, 2023. The objective was to investigate the impact of incorporating bladder dock (Rumex vesicarius) plant powder and vitamin C into the diet of broilers (Ross 308) subjected to heat stress on their productive traits. A total of 300 unsexed broiler chicks, each one day old, from the Ross308 cross, were utilized. The average weight of each chick was 42 grams. The chicks were provided with three distinct diets between the ages of 1 and 10 days, followed by a second diet between the ages of 11 and 24 days, and finally a third diet between the ages of 25 and 35 days. The energy content of the three diets was measured to be 3010, 3081, and 3210 kcal/kg, respectively. Similarly, the protein content was found to be 23.11, 21.51, and 19.58, respectively. The one-day-old chicks were allocated into five treatments using a random distribution method. Each treatment consisted of 60 chicks, with three replicates. Each duplicate consisted of 20 chicks. The therapies administered were as follows: T1: Control, standard diet, T2: standard diet supplemented with 5 g of R. vesicarius plant powder per kilogram of body weight, T3: standard diet supplemented with 10 g of R. vesicarius powder per kilogram of body weight, T4: standard diet supplemented with 300 mg of vitamin C per kilogram of body weight, T5: standard diet supplemented with 150 mg of vitamin C plus 5g of R. vesicarius plant powder per kilogram of body weight. The study’s findings revealed a statistically significant disparity (P < 0.05) in the ultimate live body weight and overall weight increase of the avian subjects in the two experimental groups, T2 and T4, in comparison to the control group, T1. The birds in all treatments did not exhibit any notable disparities in the rate of total feed consumption when compared to the control group. The feed conversion factor for the birds experienced a substantial enhancement. The comparison between the two therapies, T2 and T4, and the control therapy was conducted.