Abstract
Objective:The trial was aimed at assessing the effect of phytogenic feed additive (PFA), a natural adaptogen, on growth performance, serum neopterin level, and cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity (CBH) response in heat-induced stress model of broilers.Materials and Methods:One-day-old Ross 308 chicks (N = 360) were randomly distributed among normal control (NOR), heat-stress control (HSC), and PFA treatment (HSC plus PFA at 200 gm/ton of feed) group. HSC and PFA groups were subjected to heat stress (HS) (32°C–36°C) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for 35 days. The impact of HS on growth performance, serum neopterin level, and CBH response was assessed.Results:High ambient temperature worsened the performance traits [bodyweight (p < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio] and significantly lowered the serum neopterin level and CBH response in the HSC group when compared to the NOR group. However, supplementation of PFA at 200 gm/ton of feed to birds mitigated the detrimental effects of HS.Conclusion:PFA at 200 gm/ton demonstrated the immunomodulatory effect through the restoration of serum neopterin level, CBH response, and growth performance traits in heat-stressed broiler chickens. Thus, PFA can be used as a natural adaptogen to increase the stress resistance and mitigate the negative consequences of various stressors in broiler chickens.
Highlights
Poultry production is one of the rapidly evolving segments in the livestock industry in developing countries [1], but its sustainability is affected by several environmental factors [2]
The birds exposed to high ambient temperature (32°C–36°C) displayed a drastic reduction (p < 0.01) in body weight gain when compared to normal control (NOR) birds on day 42
Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was found to be significantly worsened in heat-stress control (HSC) as compared to NOR, whereas it was improved by phytogenic feed additive (PFA) addition in heatstressed birds (Table 3)
Summary
Poultry production is one of the rapidly evolving segments in the livestock industry in developing countries [1], but its sustainability is affected by several environmental factors [2]. Stress due to high ambient temperature has become a substantial economic burden to the livestock industry during the summer season [5], and the broiler chickens are highly sensitive to heat stress (HS) due to the feathering and absence of sweat glands [6]. HS remarkably contributes to the distress of animals leading to changes in pulse rate, respiration rate, and metabolism, affecting their growth, production, and immune system [7]. It is an essential unit of the defense machinery to safeguard the livestock in response to pathogenic infection. Exposure to an erratic temperature pattern modified several components of the immune function in
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