Heat-stressed Broiler Chickens Research Articles

Effect of mineral and vitamin C mix on growth performance and blood corticosterone concentrations in heat-stressed broilers

Heat stress is a major problem in the poultry industry, especially during summer months and when birds are raised under high-density conditions. Previous studies have reported that vitamin C or electrolyte supplementation could palliate the effects of heat stress in broiler chickens. The present study evaluated the effect of a mineral and vitamin mix (AHS) added to drinking water on the performance of broiler chickens. In total, 1,824 one-day-old birds were randomly allocated to 48 pens. Maximum animal density was 26.5 kg/m2. The control group received no additive; AHS-1 and -2 groups received the AHS mix at a concentration of 1 and 2 kg/1,000 L in drinking water, respectively; and the Vit-C group received vitamin C in drinking water at 200 g/1,000 L. All birds were fed the same diets based on a 3-phase feeding program; feed and water were given on ad libitum basis. To mimic heat stress conditions, temperature in the barn was raised to 35 C from 08:00 to 14:00 h each day. For the overall growing period (0 to 35 D), adding AHS to drinking water increased final BW, ADG, and ADFI linearly (PLinear 0.10). No significant effect on mortality were found (8.77%; P > 0.10). Relative to control, all the treatments tested reduced (P

Alleviation of heat stress in broiler chicken using turmeric (Curcuma longa) - a short review

Alleviation of heat stress in broiler chicken using turmeric (Curcuma longa) - a short review

Effect of dietary supplementation of phytogenic feed additive on performance traits, serum neopterin, and cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity response in heat-induced stress model of broiler chickens.

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.

Dietary supplementation with copper oxide nanoparticles ameliorates chronic heat stress in broiler chickens

Aims Heat stress (HS) is one of the most serious problems of poultry production. Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element that plays a crucial role in the organism defence against oxidative stress. Because of the low mineral availability of the commercial Cu salts, in a novel approach, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) were used to alleviate chronic heat stress-induced degenerative changes in two commercial broiler strains (Ross 308 and Cobb 500). Methods Birds of each broiler strain were divided into six groups, with three replicates each. The first group (N1) received 100% of the recommended Cu requirements as CuO and was housed under normal temperature (24 ± 2°C), the second and third groups (N2 and N3 respectively) received 100% and 50% of the recommended Cu requirements as CuO-NPs and were housed under normal temperature. The fourth, fifth and sixth groups (H1, H2 and H3 respectively) received the same level of Cu supplementation as did the first, second and third groups respectively, and they were housed under normal temperature until the age of 21 days, and then exposed to HS (33 ± 2°C/5 h per day for two successive weeks). Key results Dietary supplementation with CuO-NPs during HS altered the HS-induced responses of the birds, as confirmed by decreased liver malondehyde (MDA) concentration and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) mRNA expression levels and enzyme activities (P &amp;lt; 0.001), with a distinct linear association between the gene expression level and enzyme activity. Copper oxide NPs also reduced HS-induced degenerative changes in the hepatic tissue. These nanoparticles modulated, although variably, liver HS protein 70 (HSP70), HS protein 90 (HSP90) and HS factor 3 (HSF3) mRNA transcript levels among Ross and Cobb chickens following HS (P &amp;lt; 0.001). Performance of both strains under HS was improved (as shown by a marked reduction in body temperature (P &amp;lt; 0.001) and a higher bodyweight (P &amp;lt; 0.01)) when CuO-NPs were supplemented in the diet, especially for the birds receiving 50% of the recommended Cu requirement, with different responses being noted in the two strains studied. Conclusion CuO-NPs could be used as a good alternative source of Cu in poultry nutrition during summer. Implications Dietary supplementation of CuO-NPs, especially at 50% of the birds’ recommended requirement, during heat stress could enhance bird performance, lower bird temperature and increase its resistance to negative consequences of elevated temperature.

Efficiency of savory (Satureja Khuzestanica Jamzad) essential oil on performance, carcass traits, some blood parameters and immune function of Male Ross 308 heat stressed broiler chicks

To investigate the efficiency of savory essential oil on performance, organs relative weight, some blood parameters, immune response and hepatic enzymes of broiler chickens, a total 320 male Ross 308 chicks were allocated to four treatments and four replicates of twenty birds as a completely randomized design from. The varidifferent levels savory oil. The body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded at continues weeks of the experiment. Relative weight of visceral organs was determined and blood serum glucose and activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured after blood sampling at 42 days old and plasma IgG immunoglobulin was quantified. Data showed that BW and FI increased with savory oil inclusion (p≤0.05). Besides, the savory oil decreased the plasma glucose, AST and ALT and serum blood Ig G of heat stressed broilers, increased significantly (p?0.05) instead. In conclusion we may suggested that, the savory oil at 0.4 ml/L could improve economic proficiency in broiler flocks due to accumulation of minute advantages in greater BWG, FI, and improved immune system and lowered hepatic enzymes under heat stress condition.

The growth performance, plasma biochemistry indices, immune system, antioxidant status, and intestinal morphology of heat-stressed broiler chickens fed grape (Vitis vinifera) pomace

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of grape (Vitis vinifera) pomace, GP, on growth performance, blood metabolites, immunity, antioxidant status, and intestinal morphology of heat-stressed broiler chickens. A total of 250 1-d-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, with 5 replicates (n = 10). A group was raised at comfort temperatures (thermoneutral) and fed basal diet throughout the study. The other four groups were raised at comfort temperatures until d 24 and then subjected to a heat stress (HS), 37 ± 1 °C and 55% relative humidity, for 6 h from d 25 to 42. They fed diets containing 0, 20, 40, and 60 g GP / kg diet for 42 days. The results showed that GP inclusion linearly increased the feed intake during the starter and grower periods (P = 0.044 and P = 0.023, respectively). Furthermore, dietary GP linearly reduced the blood concentration of triglycerides (P = 0.047), cholesterol (P = 0.007), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL, P = 0.001), and enzyme activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST, P = 0.002), but increased the blood concentration high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.001) and total protein (P = 0.014) concentrations at d 24. Heat stress impaired the growth performance of broiler chickens. Heat-stressed broiler chickens showed lower carcass efficiency (P = 0.031), breast (P = 0.033), thigh and drumstick (P = 0.003), abdominal fat (P = 0.001), bursa of Fabricius (P = 0.001), and thymus (P = 0.0001) relative weight. The blood protein concentration (P = 0.006), and antibody titer against sheep red blood cells (SRBC, P = 0.002) were lower in heat stressed-birds compared with the thermoneutral broiler chickens. It also decreased the erythrocyte activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx, P = 0.047) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, P = 0.004), jejunal villus height (P = 0.011), and villus height to crypt depth ratio (P = 0.008). However, HS increased the relative weights of liver (P = 0.001), pancreas (P = 0.001), gallbladder (P = 0.008), and heart (P = 0.022). The HS also increased blood activity of AST (P = 0.003) and concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA, P = 0.02) as compared to thermoneutral condition. Dietary GP did not affect the growth performance, antibody titer against SRBC, relative length of different small intestine segments, and jejunal morphology indices in heat-stressed broiler chickens. However, GP inclusion increased the thigh and drumstick (quadratic, P = 0.04), bursa (linear, P = 0.049), and thymus (linear, P = 0.014) percentages, but linearly reduced that of abdominal fat (P = 0.001). Grape pomace inclusion linearly reduced the plasma concentration of cholesterol (P = 0.003) and LDL (P = 0.01) at d 42. Dietary GP linearly decreased the plasma MDA (P = 0.036) concentration, while linearly increased the GPx and SOD activities (P = 0.0001). Overall, based on the estimates from the regression models, the optimal dietary GP level would be 51.7 g / kg for heat-stressed broiler chickens.

Effects of dietary curcumin and acetylsalicylic acid supplements on performance, muscle amino acid and fatty acid profiles, antioxidant biomarkers and blood chemistry of heat-stressed broiler chickens.

The objective was to investigate the effects of dietary curcumin and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on the performance and physiological responses of broiler chickens under chronic thermal stress. One hundred and sixty day-old male chicks (Ross 308) were divided equally into 4 groups (each contained 4 replicates). On the day 22 of age and thereafter, the first group (TN) was raised in a thermoneutral condition (23 ± 1 °C), while the second group (HS) was subjected to 8 h of thermal stress (34 °C) and both groups fed the basal diet with no supplements. The third (CR) and fourth (AS) groups were subjected to the same thermal stress conditions and fed curcumin-supplemented diet (100 mg curcumin kg-1 diet) and ASA-supplemented diet (1 g ASA kg-1 diet), respectively. Dietary treatment had a significant effect on ADFI (P = 0.041), average daily gain (P = 0.013) and final body weight (P = 0.001). The curcumin-supplemented had higher values for these measures compared with other experimental groups (P < 0.05). Also, the dietary curcumin supplement significantly increased the carcass yield as compared to the HS group (P < 0.05). Compared with the HS group, the dietary curcumin and ASA supplements decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde in the breast muscles (P = 0.014). Both dietary supplements exhibited a marked ability to restore the serum TAC, Na and K in heat-stressed broiler chickens. The current study reported a remarkable ability of curcumin supplement to restore the concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the breast muscles of heat-stressed broilers, including α-linolinec acid and Docosahexaenoic acid (P = 0.009 and 0.001, respectively). It could be concluded that supplemental dietary curcumin or ASA enhanced growth performance and antioxidant biomarkers of heat-stressed broilers. Moreover, curcumin might be an effective dietary supplement to alleviate the adverse effect of chronic thermal stress on carcass yield and meat quality.

Immunomodulatory and Growth Promoting Effects of Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and Ascorbic Acid in Heat Stressed Broiler Chickens

Immunomodulatory and Growth Promoting Effects of Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and Ascorbic Acid in Heat Stressed Broiler Chickens

Comparison of growth performance and immune responses of broiler chicks reared under heat stress, cold stress and thermoneutral conditions

This study was conducted to compare the effects of thermal stress on growth performance and some immunity variables of broiler chickens. Birds were randomly assigned to one of three thermal treatments as follows: cold stress (CS, 12±1°C), (b) heat stress (HS, 33±3 °C) and (c) thermoneutral (TN, 24±2 °C). Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), water intake (WI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded. In order to evaluate the primary and secondary humoral immune responses, two birds per replicate were intravenously administrated with a suspension of 7% sheep red blood cell (SRBC) at 28 and 35 days. The heat-stressed broiler chickens had lower FI (-14.90%), BWG (-25.71%) and higher FCR (+13.06%) in comparison to broiler chickens reared under TN condition (p&lt;0.001) from 1 to 42 days of age. The cold-stressed broiler chickens showed lower FI (-22.05%), BWG (-38.32%) and higher FCR (+22.47%) in comparison to birds reared under TN conditions (p&lt;0.001). Stressed birds (CS and HS) showed decreased antibody titer against SRBC, lymphocyte count and the relative weights of lymphoid organs and increased heterophil count, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and the serum concentration of corticosterone, in comparison to birds in TN group (p&lt;0.001). In conclusion, HS and CS conditions have similar negative effects on performance and immunity of broiler chickens.

Effects of Mannan-oligosaccharide and β-Glucan Prebiotic on the Brain Oxidant/Antioxidant Balance in Broilers under Natural Egyptian Summer Conditions

This study was conducted to investigate the potential effects of mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS) and β-glucan (BG) prebiotic (AGRIMOS®) on the redox homeostasis, histopathology, and microglia count in the brain of heat-stressed broiler chickens. One hundred sixty eight (168) Ross one-day-old broiler chicks were obtained from local hatchery. The experiment was started at 28-day old; where birds were exposed to heat stress and were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments containing 0 (control), 0.5, 2, and 4 g/kg MOS and BG probiotic, respectively, for 14 days. Each treatment consisted of three replicates of 14 birds each (i.e., total birds/treatment count is 42 birds). The results indicated a significant decrease in catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in all MOS and β-glucan prebiotic treated groups. Supplementation with 0.5 g of prebiotic/kg diet resulted in a significant increase in glutathione levels; however, a significant decrease in superoxide radicals was found at dose of 4 g of prebiotic/kg diet. The levels of lipid peroxidation in supplemented groups exhibited a significant decrease at doses of 2 and 4 g of prebiotic/kg diet. Although there were no obvious changes in the histoarchitecture of cerebellar tissues, a significant increase in the number of microglia was evident following administration with 4 g of prebiotic/kg diet. In conclusion, supplementation of MOS and BG may be regarded as promising candidate for alleviating the undesirable effects of heat challenge on the brain of broiler chickens, nevertheless; further studies are warranted to look for other nutritional approaches.

Curcumin attenuates heat-stress-induced oxidant damage by simultaneous activation of GSH-related antioxidant enzymes and Nrf2-mediated phase II detoxifying enzyme systems in broiler chickens

The object of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin on modulating the glutathione (GSH)-related antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant responses via NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in heat-stressed broiler chickens. A total of 400 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks was reared in an environmentally controlled room. At 21 d, broiler chicks were divided into 5 treatment groups and were fed one of 4 diets under 2 temperature conditions: 22°C + a basal diet (CON treatment); 34°C for 8h (0900-1700) + a basal diet supplemented with 0, 50, 100, or 200mg/kg curcumin (HS, CMN1, CMN2, and CMN3 treatments, respectively). The heat treatment lasted for 20 consecutive days. The results showed that heat stress significantly increased (P <0.05) the weekly rectal temperature and average head and feet temperature. Compared to the HS treatment, feed conversion was significantly decreased (P <0.05) in CMN1 and CMN2 treatments. CMN1 administration significantly improved (P <0.05) the pH24 of muscle. The abnormal changes of serum malonaldehyde and corticosterone concentrations were prevented (P <0.05) by curcumin. Mitochondrial GSH concentration in the liver was significantly increased (P <0.05) in CMN1 and CMN2 treatments compared with the HS treatment. The CMN1, CMN2, and CMN3 supplementations significantly increased (P <0.05) γ-GCL, GSH-Px, and GST activities. Curcumin significantly increased (P <0.05) the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and γ-GCLc in the liver as compared to the CON diet. The expression of Cu/ZnSOD and CAT were increased (P <0.05) by feeding CMN2, respectively, as compared to the HS treatment. It was concluded that curcumin supplementation enhanced the resistance of broilers to heat stress, as evidenced by reversing the FC, increasing the GSH content and GSH-related enzyme activities, and inducing the expression of Nrf2 and Nrf2-mediated phase II detoxifying enzyme genes.

Rosemary Reduces Heat Stress by Inducing CRYAB and HSP70 Expression in Broiler Chickens.

Heat stress negatively affects poultry production and animal health. In response, animals invoke a heat stress response by inducing heat shock proteins (HSPs). Scientists are actively seeking natural products that can enhance the heat shock response. The present study aimed at assessing the effects of a purified rosemary extract comprising antioxidant compounds on the heat shock response and HSP expression profile in broiler chickens. The response of broilers to HS in the presence of purified rosemary extract was assessed using an in vivo myocardial cell model. Pathological lesions of heart tissue were examined microscopically. The levels and activities of enzymes associated with heart damage and oxidative damage were detected. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for HSPs in myocardial cells. The results showed that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and myocardial CK (CKMB) levels were reduced by the purified rosemary extract before and during heat stress. Heat stress alone increased CK and CKMB levels. The levels of oxidative damage-associated enzymes were compared between the rosemary + heat stress and heat stress-alone groups. The results indicated that in terms of these enzymes, the purified rosemary extract induced a more antioxidative state. Pathological examinations showed that heat stress caused myocardial fiber fracture, karyopyknosis, and degeneration. The addition of purified rosemary extract ameliorated these lesions to some degree, preserving more of the basic structure. Heat stress decreased the cellular levels of crystallin alpha B (CRYAB) and HSP70. The addition of the purified rosemary extract significantly increased the levels of CRYAB and HSP70 during heat stress (p < 0.0001). Immunohistochemistry showed that after rosemary treatment, CRYAB and HSP70 showed more intense staining compared with the no heat stress control group. In the rosemary + heat group, after 10 hours of heat stress, the staining intensity of these two proteins remained higher than in the heat stress group. Thus, purified rosemary extract could induce high levels of HSP70 and CRYAB in chicken hearts before and during heat stress. Purified rosemary extract could be used to alleviate heat stress in broiler chickens.

Effect of Morinda citrifolia (Noni)-Enriched Diet on Hepatic Heat Shock Protein and Lipid Metabolism-Related Genes in Heat Stressed Broiler Chickens.

Heat stress (HS) has been reported to alter fat deposition in broilers, however the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well-defined. The objectives of the current study were, therefore: (1) to determine the effects of acute (2 h) and chronic (3 weeks) HS on the expression of key molecular signatures involved in hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic programs, and (2) to assess if diet supplementation with dried Noni medicinal plant (0.2% of the diet) modulates these effects. Broilers (480 males, 1 d) were randomly assigned to 12 environmental chambers, subjected to two environmental conditions (heat stress, HS, 35°C vs. thermoneutral condition, TN, 24°C) and fed two diets (control vs. Noni) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Feed intake and body weights were recorded, and blood and liver samples were collected at 2 h and 3 weeks post-heat exposure. HS depressed feed intake, reduced body weight, and up regulated the hepatic expression of heat shock protein HSP60, HSP70, HSP90 as well as key lipogenic proteins (fatty acid synthase, FASN; acetyl co-A carboxylase alpha, ACCα and ATP citrate lyase, ACLY). HS down regulated the hepatic expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triacylglycerol lipase (LIPC), but up-regulated ATGL. Although it did not affect growth performance, Noni supplementation regulated the hepatic expression of lipogenic proteins in a time- and gene-specific manner. Prior to HS, Noni increased ACLY and FASN in the acute and chronic experimental conditions, respectively. During acute HS, Noni increased ACCα, but reduced FASN and ACLY expression. Under chronic HS, Noni up regulated ACCα and FASN but it down regulated ACLY. In vitro studies, using chicken hepatocyte cell lines, showed that HS down-regulated the expression of ACCα, FASN, and ACLY. Treatment with quercetin, one bioactive ingredient in Noni, up-regulated the expression of ACCα, FASN, and ACLY under TN conditions, but it appeared to down-regulate ACCα and increase ACLY levels under HS exposure. In conclusion, our findings indicate that HS induces hepatic lipogenesis in chickens and this effect is probably mediated via HSPs. The modulation of hepatic HSP expression suggest also that Noni might be involved in modulating the stress response in chicken liver.

Partial Replacement of Dietary Methionine with Betaine and Choline in Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens.

We conducted two trials to evaluate the methionine-sparing effects of choline (Chol) and betaine (Bet), and their effects on growth performance and blood antioxidative potential in heat-stressed broiler chickens fed methionine (Met)-deficient diets. We used 360 1-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) in a completely randomized study with 5 replicate pens of 12 birds each. After Day 21, we raised the temperature to 35±3°C using an automated air-forced heater for 12 hours/day from 8 am to 8 pm to expose the birds to heat stress. In Trial 1, the treatments comprised a negative control (control-; 1200 mg/kg Met-deficient), a positive control (control+; recommended level of Met), 280Chol (control- plus 280 mg/kg Chol), 560Chol (control- plus 560 mg/kg Chol), 320Bet (control- plus 320 mg/kg Bet), and 640Bet (control- plus 640 mg/kg Bet); and in Trial 2, the treatments comprised a negative control (control-), a positive control (control+), 140Chol+160Bet (control- plus 140 mg/kg Chol and 160 mg/kg Bet), 280Chol+160Bet (controlplus 280 mg/kg Chol and 160 mg/kg Bet), 140Chol+320Bet (control- plus 140 mg/kg Chol and 320 mg/kg Bet), and 280Chol+320Bet (control- plus 280 mg/kg Chol and 320 mg/kg Bet). Compared with the other treatments, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved in the 280Chol and control+ groups in Trials 1 and 2 (P<0.05). In Trial 2, the cost of meat production for the entire experimental period (1–42 days) was higher in the 140Cho+320Bet-fed birds than in the other birds (P<0.05), except the control- birds. Supplementing diets with 280 mg/kg of Chol significantly reduced the serum concentration of uric acid compared with the control+ group (P<0.05). Our results indicate that the Met requirements of heat-stressed broiler chickens can be reduced by 20% (1200 mg/kg) if the diet is supplemented with 280 mg/kg of Chol.

Apparent metabolisable energy and ileal crude protein digestibility of various treated palm kernel cake based diets for heat-stressed broiler chickens

Summary A digestibility trial was conducted to determine the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of crude protein in broilers fed various treated palm kernel cake (PKC) based diets under unheated and heated conditions. A total of 240 day-old female broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly distributed to 60 battery cages in environmentally controlled rooms and fed standard broiler diets from day 1 to 28. From day 29 to 35, chickens were assigned to one of the following 6 diets: (1) 25% untreated PKC, (2) 25% shell-less PKC (SPKC), (3) 25% enzyme treated PKC (EPKC), (4) 25% extruded PKC (XPKC), (5) 25% extruded shell-less PKC (XSPKC) or (6) 0% PKC (control). From day 29–35, equal numbers of birds from each diet were exposed to either 24 ±Â 1°C (unheated) or 34 ±Â 1°C for 6 h daily (heated).

Acute heat stress in broiler chickens and its impact on serum biochemical and electrolyte parameters

Biochemical and electrolyte parameters play an assistant role for the faster and realistic evaluation of multiple organ dysfunction. The present study was designed to investigate the changes in serum biochemical and electrolyte parameters of Arbor Acres (AA) broiler chickens during acute heat stress. AA broiler chickens (N=120) were randomly allocated to four groups: control group at 22 ± 1 °C and heat stress group at 2 h, 5h and 10h, respectively (HS2, HS5, and HS10) at 38±1°C. All groups of serum electrolyte and biochemical parameters, including serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, amylase, cholesterol, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured. These results indicated that heat stress have significant (p less than 0.05) effect on serum biochemical and electrolyte parameters of broiler chickens, which assist preliminary evaluation of the damage degree of corresponding organs.

Effects of Chromium (III) Picolinate and Chromium (III) Picolinate Nanoparticles Supplementation on Growth Performance, Organs Weight and Immune Function in Cyclic Heat Stressed Broiler Chickens

Effects of Chromium (III) Picolinate and Chromium (III) Picolinate Nanoparticles Supplementation on Growth Performance, Organs Weight and Immune Function in Cyclic Heat Stressed Broiler Chickens

Effects of Chromium (III) Picolinate and Chromium (III) Picolinate Nanoparticles Supplementation on Growth Performance, Organs Weight and Immune Function in Cyclic Heat Stressed Broiler Chickens

Effects of Chromium (III) Picolinate and Chromium (III) Picolinate Nanoparticles Supplementation on Growth Performance, Organs Weight and Immune Function in Cyclic Heat Stressed Broiler Chickens

Effects of Mangosteen Peel (Garcinia mangostana) and Ginger Rhizome (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) on the Performance and Cholesterol Levels of Heat-stressed Broiler Chickens

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of mangosteen peel and ginger rhizome on the performance and cholesterol levels of heat-stressed broiler chickens. Materials and Methods: One hundred unsexed day-old commercial broiler chicks were fed one of four experimental diets. Diet T1, the control treatment, contained neither mangosteen peel nor ginger rhizome, diets T2 and T3 contained 5% mangosteen peel and 5% ginger rhizome, respectively and diet T4 contained 2.5% of both mangosteen peel and ginger rhizome. Results: The results indicated that the consumption of diet T4 was significantly higher than that of the other three diets (p<0.05). The mean live weight of broilers fed diets T2 and T4 was significantly greater (p<0.05) than that of broilers fed the control diet. The abdominal fat ratios and cholesterol levels of broilers fed diets T3 and T4 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of broilers fed the control diet. Conclusion: The performance of broiler chickens can be enhanced by the addition of mangosteen peel or a combination of mangosteen peel and ginger rhizome to feed formulations. Key words: Cholesterol, mangosteen peel, ginger rhizome, performance, heat stress

Aspirin upregulates αB-Crystallin to protect the myocardium against heat stress in broiler chickens.

We established in vivo and in vitro models to investigate the role of αB-Crystallin (CryAB) and assess the ability of aspirin (ASA) to protect the myocardium during prolonged heat stress. Thirty-day-old chickens were divided into three groups (n = 90): heat stress (HS, 40±1 °C); ASA(−)HS(+), 1 mg/kg ASA orally 2 h before heat stress; and ASA(+)HS(−), pretreated with aspirin, no heat stress (25 °C). Hearts were excised after 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 24 h. Heat stress increased body temperature, though the ASA(−)HS(+) group had significantly higher temperatures than the ASA(+)HS(+) group at all time points. Compared to ASA(+)HS(+), the ASA(−)HS(+) group displayed increased sensitivity to heat stress. Pathological analysis revealed the ASA (+)HS(+) myocardium showed less severe changes (narrowed, chaotic fibers; fewer necrotic cells) than the ASA(−)HS(+) group (bleeding and extensive cell death). In vitro, ASA-pretreatment significantly increased primary chicken myocardial cell survival during heat stress. ELISAs indicated ASA induced CryAB in vivo to protect against heat stress-induced myocardial damage, but ASA did not induce CryAB in primary chicken myocardial cells. The mechanisms by which ASA induces the expression of CryAB in vivo and protects the myocardium during heat stress merit further research.