Effect of Different Supplemental Vitamins on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

A total of 150 day-old broiler chicks was used to study the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. The chicks were divided into 5 treatment groups (control, vitamins A, C, E and A+C+E dietary supplementation) each of 3 replicates containing 10 birds per replicate. The dietary supplemental vitamins were administered from the brooding stage all through the period of the experiment which lasted for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8^th week of the experiment, two birds of average weight were taken for carcass analysis. Data obtained on the growth performance and carcass analysis were subjected to Completely Randomised Design. The results showed no significant (p>0.05) differences in all the growth parameters considered. However, birds fed diet supplemented with vitamin A recorded a numerically higher feed intake of 196.94 g/bird/day than those of the control, vitamins C, E and A+C+E dietary supplemented groups. Significant (p<0.05) differences were obtained in the live weight, wings and heart of broiler chickens fed supplemental vitamins. The highest live weight (1950.00 g), wing (8.92%) and heart (0.43 %) were observed in birds fed diet supplemented with vitamin A. It was therefore recommended that for better carcass yield in terms of live weight, vitamin A supplementation at 0.45 mg/kg in the diets of broiler chickens will be appropriate and vitamin C should be supplemented at 50 mg/kg in broiler chicken’s diets to reduce mortality.