Research On Animal Production

Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

---

     An experiment was conducted to evaluate of body temperature response and serum metabolites of Ross male broiler chickens subjected to heat stress condition. Treatment diets were different levels of protein and feed restriction program. Two groups were fed ad libitum with a standard protein diet (NRC, 1994) and low protein diet (0.85 NRC, 1994) from 21 to 42 d of age. The third group (feed restriction treatment) was fed with the standard protein diet, but fasted daily for 8 hours from 2 hours before heat stress till the end of heat stress (8:00 to 16:00 h). Broilers had free access to water during the experiment. The feed restriction group had significantly lowered body temperature than others after heat stress (P<0.05). Heat stress increased body temperature from 41.37^oC to 41.98^oC. Before heat stress blood triglyceride was significantly lower in feed restriction treatment than other groups, while the lowest serum uric acid was related to chickens fed with low protein diet (P<0.05). Dietary treatments had not significant effect on other serum metabolites before and after heat stress (P>0.05). Heat stress significantly increased blood cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, uric acid, glucose and decreased blood potassium. Heat stress had no significant effect on blood sodium, calcium, globulin and HDL. In conclusion, results of this experiment showed that heat stress increased body temperature and altered serum metabolites up to 13 to 33 percent in male broiler chickens.
 

Keywords: Blood parameters, Body temperature, Heat stress, Broiler

Full-Text [PDF 312 kb]   (1628 Downloads)    

Add your comments about this article : Your username or Email:

---