Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Sodium Bicarbonate on Digestibility of Nutrients and Immune Response in Caged Layers During the Summer

Abstract

The aim of this project was to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3) on nutrient digestibility and immune response of caged layers during summer when the temperature exceeds 40 ˚C. For immune response trial, White Leghorn layers (n=160; 24 weeks old) were purchased from a poultry farm and were divided into five treatment/diets groups (4 replicate/treatment). Diet A, was without NaHCO 3 and served as control whereas, diets B, C, D, and E contained 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% NaHCO 3 , respectively. All these birds were vaccinated against Newcastle disease (ND) virus at the start of the experiment and thereafter with one-month intervals. Blood samples were collected from two birds/replicate at 10 days post vaccination each time to check antibody titer against ND virus. For digestibility trial, fecal samples were collected (6 layers/treatment group) at the start of the 37 th week of age for two days, at 3 hours interval. Results revealed that immune response against ND virus 10 days post vaccination after 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd month was significantly (p<0.05) higher in layer birds fed diets containing NaHCO 3. Digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE) and absorption of minerals were also found to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in groups treated with NaHCO 3 and the birds fed diet containing 1% NaHCO 3 showed the best results. In general, results revealed that 1% supplementation of NaHCO 3 in layers' diet have a beneficial impact in terms of immunity and diet digestibility.

Comparative study of adaptation in three chicken genotypes under humid tropical conditions of Nigeria

“…It results in elevation of body temperature when all thermolytic mechanisms fail to maintain thermal balance in homeothermic animals (Aengwanich, 2008). Birds that cannot cope respond by reducing productivity because of diversion of nutrients meant for production to thermoregulation and other homeostatic mechanisms (Abbas et al., 2019;Kadim, Al‐Marzooqi, Mahgoub, Al‐Jabri, & Al‐Waheebi, 2008;Sarica, Polat, & Ayasan, 2019). Chickens being homeothermic animals have a thermoregulation centre located in the pre‐optic anterior hypothalamus (PO/AH) with thermoreceptors monitoring brain temperature and controlling body temperature by physiological mechanisms and behavioural responses (Baarendse, Debonne, Decuypere, Kemp, & Brand, 2007).…”

Combating Heat Stress in Laying Hens a Review

“…Physiological effects due to stress include: increase in cardiac activity, increased respiration, increased intermediate metabolism and restraining of general somatic functions i.e. feeding, digestive, growth, reproductive and immune response (Abbas et al, 2019;Abbas et al, 2021).…”

“…Heat stress is reported to suppress immunity against ND and Gumboroo (IBD) disease in laying hens (Abbas et al, 2019: Mashaly et al, 2004. Environmental stressors affect the immune response and inherent resistance of the host in a direct and/or indirect way (Abbas et al, 2019).…”

“…Heat stress is reported to suppress immunity against ND and Gumboroo (IBD) disease in laying hens (Abbas et al, 2019: Mashaly et al, 2004. Environmental stressors affect the immune response and inherent resistance of the host in a direct and/or indirect way (Abbas et al, 2019). Layer birds kept under heat stress experienced a reduction in lymphocytes and a rise in heterophil concentration (Anjum, 2000;Abbas et al, 2017).…”

“…Heat stress caused reduction in total leucocytes and WBCs count and thus affected immune response (Abbas et al, 2017). Environmental factors other than temperature have also shown to influence immunity in birds (Abbas et al, 2017), i.e microbial toxins, hypoxia (Tengerdy, 1970), non-ionic radiation (McRee et al, 1977), social connections (Siegel and Latimer, 1975), heavy metals (Morgan et al, 1975), pesticides (Glick, 1972, nest strain (Thaxton and Briggs, 1972) and amount of nutrients intake (Abbas et al, 2019) etc.…”