Efficacy of cow urine distillate in combating mercury induced toxicity in commercial broilers

Abstract

Present study was designed to investigate the beneficial and curative effect of cow urine distillate in modulating toxic effect of mercury in chickens. Twenty four, day old, broiler chicks were procured and reared in battery brooders for a week and then divided into four groups of six chicks each. Group I birds were fed with standard feed served as control. Group II birds were administered with cow urine distillate @ 1 ml/bird/day. Group III birds received mercuric chloride @ 50 ppm mixed with feed whereas, group IV birds received mercuric chloride @ 50 ppm in feed along with cow urine distillate @ 1 ml/bird/day. The birds given mercuric chloride (group III) showed significant decrease in the level of haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count and erythrocytic indices. The values of serum enzymes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and glucose were significantly elevated whereas the level of serum proteins declined. Group IV birds receiving cow urine distillate along with mercuric chloride did not show any toxic effects of the mercuric chloride and the haematological and biochemical parameters remained near normal range. The beneficial effect of cow urine distillate in combating toxic effects of mercuric chloride was evident as there was neither decrease in erythrocytic indices nor elevation of serum enzymes, glucose, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in group IV birds.