Effect of different levels of vitamin C and L-carnitine on performance and some blood and immune parameters of broilers under heat stress.

پژوهشهای علوم دامی ایران

Article 19, Volume 8, Issue 1 - Serial Number 25, March 2016, Pages 141-153   

Document Type: Poultry Nutrition

DOI: 10.22067/ijasr.v8i1.47186

Authors

Saeed Mirzapor Sarab¹; Smayyeh Salari^{* 1}; Khalil Mirzadeh¹; Ali Aghaei²

¹Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan.

²Department of Animal Science, Animal Science and Food Technology Faculty, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction:
High Environmental temperature during summer months which leading to heat stress, is of great concern in all types of poultry production. Feed consumption, growth rate, hatchability, mortality, and other important traits governing the prosperity of the industry are adversely affected by severe heat stress. Literature suggests that the advantages of dietary L-carnitine and ascorbic acid have been particularly apparent under heat stress (8).
L- carnitine is a zwitterionic compound synthesized in vivo from lysine and methonine, and is essential for the transport of long – chain fatty acid across the inner mitochondria membrane for β – oxidation and remove toxic accumulations of fatty acids from mitochondria (18). Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant, which is essential for collagen synthesis, helps to maintain various enzymes in their required reduced form, and participates in the biosynthesis of carnitine, norepinephrine and certain neuroendocrine peptides (11). Invertebrates, insects, most fishes, some birds, guinea-pigs, bats and primates are not able to synthesize ascorbic acid. Thus, these animals must depend upon a dietary supply of this vitamin C. In poultry, ascorbic acid has been demonstrated to be essential for growth (25).
Materials and Methods: In this study, 396 of Ross 308 broiler chicks in a completely randomized design with 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with 4 replicates of 11 chicks in each replicate were used for 42 days. Treatments were 3 levels of vitamin C (0, 250 and 500 mg/ kg) and 3 levels of L-carnitine (0, 50 and 100 mg kg). In the first 3 weeks of breeding, broilers were under normal temperature and heat stress was done from the beginning of forth week. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum. Performance parameters were recorded weekly. The 0.5 mL suspension of 5% SRBC was injected at 28 and 35 days of age in one bird of each pen. To determine the antibody titer, blood was collected 1 week after each injection. Vaccination against Newcastle was done at 8 days of age and 10 days after that blood was collected for determining Newcastle titer. At the end of the experiment, one bird of each replicate was slaughtered and blood was collected for analyzing lipid parameters, and also carcass characteristics were analyzed.
Results and Discussion: Highest feed intake observed in birds that consuming 250 mg/kg of vitamin C and 100 mg/kg of L-Carnitine at the starter period but at the grower period feed intake was highest in birds consuming 500 mg/kg of vitamin C and 50 mg/ kg of L-carnitine. In the total period of experiment, treatments of 500 mg/kg of vitamin C with 50 and 100 mg/kg L-Carnitine showed highest feed intake (p

Keywords

vitamin C; L-Carnitine; Heat stress; Broilers; Blood parameters

References

1- Amakye-Anim, J. T., L. Lin., P. Y. Hester., D. Thiagarajan., B. A. Watkins., and C. C. Wu. 2000. Ascorbic acid supplementation improved antibody response to infectious burial disease vaccination in chickens. Poultry Science, 79(5): 680-688.

2- Assai, K., and H. Nilli. 2002. Domestic birds breeding in warm climates. Shiraz: Shiraz University Publication Center.

3- Bell, F. P., T. J. Vidmar., and T. L. Raymond. 1992. L-carnitine administration and withdrawal affect plasma and hepatic carnitine concentrations, plasma lipid and lipoprotein composition, and in vitro hepatic lipogenesis from labeled mevalonate and oleate in normal rabbits. Journal of Nutrition, 122(4): 959-966.

4- Borges, S. A., A. F. Da Silva., A. Majorka., D. M. Hooge., and K. R. Cummings. 2004. Physiological responses of broiler chickens to heat stress and dietary electrolyte balance (sodium plus potassium minus chloride, milliequivalents per kilogram). Poultry Science, 83(9): 1551-1558.

5- Brake, J. 1989. The role of ascorbic acid in poultry production: Ascorbic acid, stress and immunity. Zooteenica International, 1: 37-62.

6- Carr, A. C., and B. Frei. 1999. Toward a new recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C based on antioxidant and health effects in humans. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 69(6): 1086-1107.

7- Cartwright, A. L. 1986. Effect of carnitine and dietary energy concentration on body weight and body lipid of growing broilers. Poultry Science, 65: 21-29.

8- Celik, L., and O. Öztürkcan. 2003. Effects of dietary supplemental L-carnitine and ascorbic acid on performance, carcass composition and plasma L-carnitine concentration of broiler chicks reared under different temperature. Archives of Animal Nutrition, 57(1): 27-38.

9- Celik, L., O. Ozturkcan., T. C. Inal., N. Canacankatan., and L. Kayrin. 2003. Effects of L-carnitine and niacin supplied by drinking water on fattening performance, carcass quality and plasma L-carnitine concentration of broiler chicks. Archives of Animal Nutrition, 57(2): 127-136.

10- Gross, W. B. 1988. Effect of ascorbic acid on antibody response of stressed and unstressed chickens. Avian Diseases, 483-485.

11- Hallfrisch, J., V. N. Singh., D. C. Muller., H. Baldwin., M. E. Bannon., and R. Andres. 1994. High plasma vitamin C associated with high plasma HDL-and HDL2 cholesterol. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 60(1): 100-105.

12- Hassan, M. S. H., S. F. Youssef., and N. M. El-bahy. 2011. Effects of l-carnitine and ascorbic acid supplementation on productive, reproductive, physiological and immunological performance of Golden montazah laying hens. Poultry Science, 31(2): 557-578.

13- Henrique, M. M. F., E. F. Gomes., M. F. Gouillou-Coustans., A. Oliva-Teles., and S. J. Davies. 1998. Influence of supplementation of practical diets with vitamin C on growth and response to hypoxic stress of seabream sparus aurata. Aquaculture, 161: 415 - 426.

14- Hesabi Namaghi, A. H., H. Nasiri Moghadam., J. Tavakol Afshari., and H. Kermanshahi. 2008. The effect of vitamin C supplementation on performance and Immunological responses of broiler chickens. Journal of Animal Science. 36(1): 1-10. (In Persian).

15- Kita, K., S. Kato., M. A. Yaman., J. Okumura., and H. Yokota. 2002. Dietary L-carnitine increases plasma insulin-like growth factor-I concentration in chicks fed a diet with adequate dietary protein level. British Poultry Science, 43(1): 117-121.

16- Lien, T. F., and Y. M. Horng. 2001. The effect of supplementary dietary L-carnitine on the growth performance, serum components, carcase traits and enzyme activities in relation to fatty acid β-oxidation of broiler chickens. British Poultry Science, 42(1): 92-95.

17- Mast, J., J. Buyse., and B. M. Goddeeris. 2000. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation increases antigen-specific immunoglobulin G production in broiler chickens. British Journal of Nutrition, 83(02): 161-166.

18- Mayes, P. A. 2003. Oxidation of fatty acids: ketogenesis. In: Harper's Biochemistry. P.K. Murray, D. K. Granner, P. A. Mayes and V. W. Rodwell (eas), Appleton and Lange Publishing, California, USA, pp. 262-263.

19- Mccorkie, F. R. R., Taylor., and B. Glick. 1980. The effect of mega levels of vitamin C on the immune responses of the chickens. Poultry Science, 59: 1324-1327.

20- McKee, J. S., and P. C. Harrison. 1995. Effects of supplemental ascorbic acid on the performance of broiler chickens exposed to multiple concurrent stressors. Poultry Science, 74(11): 1772-1785.

21- Moradi, A. 2004. L-carnitine in animal feed: Sokhangostar Mashhad. 8(5): 5-10. (In Persian).

22- National Research Council. 1994. Nutrient Requirements of Poultry, 9th edition Nation Academy Press. Washington. D.C.

23- Niu, Z. Y., F. Z. Liu., Q. L. Yan, and W. C. Li. 2009. Effects of different levels of vitamin E on growth performance and immune responses of broilers under heat stress. Poultry Science, 88(10): 2101-2107.

24- Njoku, P. C. 1986. Effect of dietary ascorbic acid (vitamin C) supplementation on the performance of broiler chickens in a tropical environment. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 16(1): 17-24.

25- Pardue, S. L., J. P. Thaxton., and J. O. H. N. Brake. 1985. Role of ascorbic acid in chicks exposed to high environmental temperature. Journal of Applied Physiology, 58(5): 1511-1516.

26- Pardue, S. L., and J. P. Thaxton. 1986. Ascorbic acid in poultry. A review. World's Poultry Science Journal, 42 :(2) 107-123.

27- Pasalar, P. 2002. A Review of Biochemistry. Sixth edition, Tehran: Institute of Tehran University Publishing and printing. (In Persian).

28- Peris, S., and F. Calafat. 2005. Acidification and other physiological additives. Industrial Technical Peccaries (ITPSA), Aveda. Roma, 157, 7 a, 08011Barcelona, Spain.

29- Rabie, M. H., M. Szilargyi., T. Gippert., D. Votisky., and E. Gerendia. 1997. Influence of dietary L-Carnitin on performanc and carcass quality of broiler chickens. Acta Biologica Hungarica, 48: 241-52.

30- Rahmati, M. M. H., A. A. Saki., P. Zamani.., A. Eskandarlou., and B. Tahmasbpour. 2011. The effect of vitamin C on performance, Characteristics of eggs and some blood parameters in laying hens. Iranian Journal of Animal Science Research, 3(3): 236-242. (In Persian).

31- Roushanie, E., A. M. Tahmasbi., A. Taghizadeh., and M. Valizadeh. 2006. Influences of early heat shock and supplemental vitamin C and E on the performance of broiler chicks exposed to acute heat stress.Quartely Journal of Agricultural science (University of Tabriz). 16(1): 255-264. (In Persian).

32- Sahin, K., N. Sahin., and S. Yaralioglu. 2002a. Effects of vitamin C and vitamin E on lipid peroxidation, blood serum metabolites, and mineral concentrations of laying hens reared at high ambient temperature. Biological Trace Element Research, 85(1): 35-45.

33- SAS Institute. 1999. SAS Statistics User’s Guide. Statistical Analytical System. 5th revised edition. Carry, NC, SAS Institute Inc.

34- Shoukry, A. 2004. Some physiological effects of potassium chloride and ascorbic acid supplementation on heat stress broiler chicks. Egyptian of Poultry Science, 21(4):1079-1100.

35- Tanaka, J., H. Fujiwara., and M. Torisu. 1979. Vitamin E and immune response: I. Enhancement of helper T cell activity by dietary supplementation of vitamin E in mice. Immunology, 38(4): 727.

36- Uysal, H., I. A. Bayram., A. Deniz., and A. Altintas. 1999. L-carnitine ve vitamin C’nin Japon bildircinlarda (Coturnix coturnix japonica) bazi Ken parametreleri üzerine etkisi. Ankara Üniv the Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University, 46: 77-84.

37- Xu, Z. R., M. Q. Wang., H. X. Mao., X. A. Zhan., and C. H. Hu. 2003. Effects of L-carnitine on growth performance, carcass composition, and metabolism of lipids in male broilers. Poultry Science, 82(3): 408-413.

38- Zhang, Y., Q. Ma., X. Bai., L. Zhao., Q. Wang., C. Ji., and H. Yin. 2010. Effects of dietary acetyl-L-carnitine on meat quality and lipid metabolism in arbor acres broilers. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 23(12): 1639-1644.