Abstract
A total of 300 day old broiler chicks (Hubbard) were assigned to 30 floor pens (10 birds per pen) under cyclic heat stress. Three diets including a control, as well as two levels of grape seed powder (GSP) and zinc (OZ) at the rates of 2.5 g/kg GSP + 50 mg/kg OZ and 5 g/kg GSP + 50 mg/kg OZ, were supplied to the broilers for 35 days. According to the results, broiler feed intake improved (p < 0.05) in GSP + OZ groups from 3–5 weeks and on an overall basis compared to the control diet. Body weight increased (p < 0.05) in GSP-5 + OZ-50 during weeks 2–5 and on an overall basis. The findings indicated that feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased (p < 0.05) during week 5 in broilers supplemented with GSP-5 + OZ-50. The antibody titer (HI) against Newcastle disease (ND) was higher (p < 0.05) in GSP + OZ groups compared to control treatment. The value of malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased (p < 0.05) under GSP + OZ diets compared to control. Moreover, paraoxonase (PON1) was higher (p < 0.05) in GSP + OZ groups compared to untreated broilers. In conclusion, GSP + OZ positively supported growth traits, reduced MDA, and augmented PON1 and HI titer against ND in broilers exposed to heat stress.
Highlights
The definition of heat stress is not conclusive among the scientists
The feed intake improved significantly (p < 0.05) in grape seed powder (GSP) + OZ groups from week 3 to 5 and on an overall basis compared to the control
The findings of body weight gain in response to dietary supplementation of GSP and OZ are given in Table 4, where this parameter increased significantly (p < 0.05)
Summary
Speaking, when the environmental temperature exceeds the physical temperature, this may result in impaired health and performance of broilers [1]. Heat stress negatively affects the growth performance and health of broilers [3,4]. Heat stress is a major limiting factor that can cause significant economic losses every year owing to poor performance, immunity, and health [5]. Zinc is highly sensitive and affected by many factors, which may result in deficiency in the body [9]. Inorganic Zn is used in the poultry diet in the form of oxides and sulfates; these Zn forms are known for a number of negative impacts such as less absorption, high hydrophobicity, irritation of gastrointestinal mucosa, low bioavailability, and increased
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