The effect of aloe preparation and 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine on immunological and haematological indices of blood of turkey hens subjected to stress

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aloe extract or 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine on immunological and haematological indices during artificially induced stress in turkey hens. The experiment was carried out on 360 turkey hens (6 groups). The groups C and C+stress were the control groups and did not receive any additive. Birds from the groups A and A+stress were administered aloe extract at the amount of 0.70 ml/kg body weight (bw)/day. The turkey hens from the groups T and T+stress received 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine at the amount of 30 μg/kg bw/day. The additives were administered in the birds’ drinking water twice for 28 days (days 36–63 and 78–105) of the birds’ life. On days 61–63 and 103–105 a stress factor (simultaneous crowding and a change in temperature and lighting) was introduced in the groups C+stress, A+stress and T+stress for 1 hour a day. The results showed that the applied stress factors caused a significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in the lysozyme level and % phagocytic cells, as well as a non-significant reduction in the metabolic activity of heterophils. Under the influence of stress an increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the percentage of monocytes and basophils was observed. The use of aloe preparation improved some indicators of immunity (increased, P ≤ 0.05, lysozyme and % phagocytic cells) in the turkey hens. To alleviate the negative effect of stress on immune reactions, supplementation of diets with aloe extract supplemented with resveratrol and vitamin C may be considered.