Dietary addition of lysophospholipids and vitamin C affects growth performance, serum metabolites, antioxidant capacity and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens reared under low ambient temperature

Abstract

Context Evaluating performance of broilers fed diet included feed additives in stress conditions. Aims This study was conducted to investigate the effects of adding lysophospholipids (LPLs) and vitamin C (VC) to diet on growth performance, blood metabolites, antioxidant capacity and carcass traits in broiler chickens reared under low ambient temperature Methods A total of 288 male chicks (Ross 308) were allotted to four treatments with six replicates (n = 12) when they were 1-day-old. Based on a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, four diets including dietary LPLs (0 or 1000 mg/kg) and VC (0 or 500 mg/kg) were formulated. According to the catalogue of LPL product, 100000 kcal/Kg metabolisable energy was considered for LPLs. The house temperature was 32°C during the first week and 30°C for a second week. To induce cold stress, house temperature was decreased to 14°C by the step-down temperature program during the third week and maintained between 12 and 14°C for the rest of the study. Key results Increased feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in chickens fed the LPL-supplemented diet during the first 2 weeks, but there was no significant difference in growth performance between the birds fed LPL-supplemented diet with control during cold stress condition. Decreased feed intake and bodyweight gain were observed in chickens fed VC-supplemented diet compared with control in cold stress condition. Dietary VC decreased blood concentration of triglyceride (TG) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Decreased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in breast muscle was observed in chickens fed VC-supplemented diet. A significant interaction between dietary LPLs and VC on relative weight and length of jejunum and ileum were detected. Comparable effects of LPLs and VC on inhibiting lipid peroxidation were observed. The free radical scavenging assay showed higher antioxidant activity of VC compared with LPLs. Conclusions Overall, dietary LPL supplementation did not improve broiler performance in cold stress condition, while the utilisation of 500 mg/kg VC in the ration reduced performance of broilers in low ambient temperature. Implications In low ambient temperature, adding 500 mg/kg VC to diet of broilers can be an effective to reduce blood concentration of TG and VLDL, with no adverse effect on FCR.