Amelioration of oxidative stress in broilers during summer

Abstract

A comparative study on antistressor and antioxidative effects of synthetic vitamin C and polyherbal feed premix Ayucee supplementation in broilers was conducted during the summer months of June-July when the mean temperature-humidity index was 84.74?2.51. Day old broiler chicks (n =60) were randomly divided into three groups. Control group I was given basal diet and treatment groups (II&III) were supplemented with Synthetic vitamin C (100g/tonne of feed) and Ayucee (100g/tonne of feed) from day 0 to six weeks of age. Biochemical parameters were analysed after 3rd & 5th week & erythrocytic antioxidant enzymes were analysed after 3rd & 6th week of experiment. Hormonal & immunological parameters were analysed after 6th of experimental study. After 3rd week, mean plasma glucose, cholesterol & antioxidant enzyme glutathione reductase (GSSG) were significantly (P? 0.01) lower in treated groups (II & III) than control (I); however total protein, albumin to globulin ratio & antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly (P? 0.05) different in group II & III compared to group I. After 5th week, mean plasma glucose, total protein, albumin globulin ratio were significantly (P? 0.05) different in both the treatments compared to control. Erythrocytic GSSG were significantly (P? 0.05) different in both the treatments than control, as observed after 6th week. Stress hormones namely cortisol & thyroxine (T4) were observed to be significantly (P?0.05) higher in untreated control than the treated groups. However, the two treatments did not differ significantly. Mean total immunoglobulin (Ig) level was significantly (P?0.01) higher in AYUCEE & vit-C treated birds than control after 6th week of study. It can be concluded from the results that oxidative stress in broilers during summer could be ameliorated using antioxidant synthetic vitamin C & the polyherbal antistressor, immunomodulator & adaptogenic feed premix AYUCEE.