Effects of Feeding Methods (Water vs. Feed) of Vitamin C on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics in Broiler Chickens

J D Lohakare,B J Chae,T -W Hahn

doi:10.5713/ajas.2004.1112

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to compare the effects of vitamin C supplemented in either feed or water on the performance and carcass characteristics of broilers during the hot season. For a 6 week feeding trial, a total of 330 broiler chicks (Ross, 4 d old, average 57 g BW) were alloted to five treatments. The treatments of vitamin C (VC) supplementation were 1) 0 ppm VC, 2) 10 ppm VC in feed, 3) 20 ppm VC in feed, 4) 5 ppm VC in water and 5) 10 ppm VC in water. During the starter phase (0-3 week), chicks on non-supplemented group grew slower (p<0.01) than the supplemented ones, and a similar trend was also noted during finisher stage and the overall stage. Feed intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher in supplemented groups and higher when fed in feed as compared with water during all stages. But feed conversion efficiency was significantly improved in non-supplemented groups compared to supplemented ones in finisher and overall stage. The digestibility of gross energy and ether extract was significantly (p<0.05) higher during starter phase in supplemented, given in feed, and at higher levels as compared with non-supplemented, given in water, and at lower levels, respectively. The bone resistance was significantly (p<0.05) higher in supplemented, supplied in feed groups as compared with their counterparts. Except breast meat, the dressing percentage and abdominal fat were also higher in supplemented group and the dressing percentage was significantly (p<0.05) higher in VC supplemented in feed as to water, but no effect of supplementation was noticed on meat color when compared between the methods of feeding (feed vs. water). The levels of VC in plasma and liver increased linearly, as the level of supplementation both in feed and water increased and it was significantly (p<0.05) higher in feed group as compared with water group. It can be concluded that, retention and availability of vitamin C in feed was higher than those in water, and supplementation of VC during summer was beneficial for poultry.

Highlights

Broilers are in continuous stress due to fast growth rate, pathogens and the ever-changing environmental conditions in the broiler houses (McCorkle and Glick, 1980)
Birds have the ability to synthesize vitamin C (VC) in their body (McDowell, 2000) and there is no recommended requirement established by the NRC (1994)
VC synthesis in the neonatal chick is apparently limited (Horning and Frigg, 1979), it is generally assumed that the endogenous synthesis is adequate to meet biological demands in poultry

Summary

Introduction

Broilers are in continuous stress due to fast growth rate, pathogens and the ever-changing environmental conditions in the broiler houses (McCorkle and Glick, 1980). The data were compared in tables between supplemented and nonsupplemented group, between feed and water as well as among higher and lower levels. The feed intake was low in starter, finisher and overall phase in un-supplemented group and since the nutrient digestibility of some of the nutrients studied was low which might have effect on the body weights in this group.

Results

Conclusion