Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak, Iran
2 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak, Iran.
Abstract
Background and Objective: The poultry industry plays a significant role in the human food chain, with its products contributing substantially to meeting protein requirements. In modern poultry production systems, birds are often raised under high-density conditions for economic efficiency. However, increased density and other factors can lead to various stresses, particularly heat stress, negatively impacting growth, performance, and overall health. Heat stress compromises the birds' defense mechanisms, making them more susceptible to diseases. Special feed additives are often employed to enhance performance and feed conversion efficiency to mitigate the adverse effects. Heat stress is a major challenge in the poultry industry, causing significant economic losses, especially in tropical climates. In broilers, it leads to reduced growth rates, intestinal tissue damage, immune suppression, and fat oxidation, ultimately diminishing economic performance.
Methodology: This study investigated the effects of dietary flixweed supplementation on performance, carcass traits, serum biochemistry, and Jejunum histology in broilers reared under high ambient temperatures. 500-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to five treatments with four replicates (25 chicks per replicate). The dietary treatments included: 1- Positive control (PC): Standard diet without additives under normal conditions, 2- Negative control (NC): Standard diet without additives under high ambient temperature conditions, 3- NC + 0.2% Vitamin C complex, 4- NC + 0.5% flixweed seed, and 5-NC + 1% flixweed seed. Body weight and feed consumption were measured at the end of the initial, growth, and final periods. On day 42, one bird from each replicate was randomly selected for blood collection via the wing vein. Blood samples were collected into Venoject tubes containing 0.5 cc of the anticoagulant ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) for hematological analysis.
Results: Dietary treatments under heat stress significantly affected body weight at 24 and 42 days of age compared to the NC group, though no differences were observed compared to the PC group. Body weight at 1 and 10 days of age was unaffected by treatments (P < 0.05). The PC group exhibited higher body weights at 24 and 42 days than other treatments. Average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, and feed intake during 10-24 days, 24-42 days, and 1-42 days differed significantly among treatments. Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and jejunum histology traits were also significantly influenced by the treatments. Notably, supplementing the NC diet with 0.5% flixweed improved performance traits in the NC group.
Conclusion: Under high ambient temperature conditions, dietary supplementation with 0.5% flixweed can enhance performance traits in broilers, making it a viable feed additive for improving productivity under heat stress.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)