Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola ISSN 1516-635X Jul - Sep 2010 / v.12 / n.3 / 209 - 209
Effects of Vitamin C and E Dietary Supplementation on Erythrocyte Parameters of Layer Chickens Reared in High Ambient Temperature and Humidity
Technical Note
Author(s) Ajakaiye JJ* Pérez-Bello A Cuesta-Mazorra M García-Díaz JR Mollineda-Trujillo Á Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine. Universidad Central "Martha Abreu" de Las Villas.
Mail Address Ajakaiye Joachim Joseph Universidad Central "Martha Abreu" de Las Villas Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Km 5½ Carretera a Camajuani P. O. 54830 Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba. Tel: +53 5241 6288. E-mail address:
[email protected]
Keywords Erythrocyte index, heat stress, hematocrit, hemoglobin.
Arrived: November/2009 Approved: April/2010
ABSTRACT A 30-day experiment involving 720 White Leghorn (L33) layer chickens of 39 weeks of age and average live weight of 1.8 ± 0.04 kg was carried out in a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of vitamins C and E on erythrocyte parameters of layers during natural summer conditions. Birds were allotted to 4 treatments containing 0, 150 mg vitamin C, 150 mg vitamin E, and 150 mg vitamin C plus 150 mg vitamin E/kg feed. Each treatment was replicated four times. The exposure of layers to 31±3 °C and 33±0 °C ambient temperature and 84.6% and 81.5% relative humidity, inside and outside the experimental pen, during the study period caused an increase in temperature humidity index 15.5 above the threshold value of 70 established for this species. Total erythrocytes counts were not affected by treatment. However, hematocrit and hemoglobin were significantly (p
