EFFECT OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF VITAMIN C ON PERFORMANCE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF GROWING PULLETS

Abstract

The effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin C on point of cage pullets was investigated in a 7- week trial. Point of cage Bovan Brown pullets (n=96) aged 12 weeks were randomly allotted to three treatments of four replicates and eight birds per replicate. Birds were initially on a basal ration for three weeks followed by supplementation with 0 mg/Kg Vitamin C (T1), 300 mg/Kg vitamin C (T2) and 600 mg/Kg vitamin C (T3) with feed and water provided ad libitum. Ambient Temperature (AT), Relative Humidity (RH) and Temperature Humidity Index (THI) were monitored. Weight gained (WG), Feed Intake (FI), livability were recorded, Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was determined while panting rate and Rectal temperature (RT) were taken. The AT (29.00+1.49 °C), RH (71.93±0.27 %). and THI (26.90±1.28) were the documented environmental parameters. Feed intake (0.89, 0.87, 0.88 for birds on T1, T2 and T3, respectively) and livability (93.8, 96.9, 96.9 for birds on T1, T2 and T3, respectively) were not influenced (P>0.05) by the treatment. The WG of birds on T1 (0.36) was similar (P>0.05) to those on T3 (0.42) but lower (P<0.05) from those on T2 (0.47). The FCR of birds on T2 and T3 were significantly lower (P<0.05) compared to birds on T1. Panting rate of birds on T3 (207.80) was lower (P<0.05) compared to similar higher (P>0.05) panting value recorded for birds on TI (231.75) and T2 (225.00) while RT of birds on T3 (41.9) was lower compared to those on TI (41.52). Vitamin C supplementation improved WG by pullets. Feed conversion ratio was lowered while panting rate and rectal temperature were lowered in growing pullets given supplemental vitamin C.