Effects of vitamin C and vitamin E on performance, digestion of nutrients and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails reared under chronic heat stress (34 °C)

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (DL-alpha-Tocopheryl acetate) on performance, digestion of nutrients and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails reared under chronic heat stress (34 degrees C). A total of 180 10-day-old Japanese quails were randomly assigned to six treatment groups, three replicates of 10 birds each. The birds with a 2 x 3 factorial design received either two levels of vitamin C (100 and 200 mg/kg of diet) or three levels of vitamin E (125, 250, or 500 mg/kg of diet). Then, 200-mg vitamin C/kg of diet, compared with that of 100 mg/kg of diet, and higher dietary vitamin E inclusions resulted in a higher performance. The interaction between vitamin C and vitamin E for final body weight change (p=0.01) and feed efficiency (p=0.02) was detected. Final body weight change and feed efficiency increased to a higher extent by increasing dietary vitamin C when higher vitamin E levels were fed. Carcass characteristics improved with an increase of both dietary vitamin C and vitamin E (p=0.004). The interactions on carcass characteristics were all significant (p=0.02) and manifested themselves in a way that they were improved to a higher extent by an increase of dietary vitamin C when higher vitamin E levels were fed. Digestibility of nutrients (DM, OM, CP and EE) was greater with higher dietary vitamin C (p < 0.02) and also with higher vitamin E (p=0.07). There were no interactions detected for digestibility of nutrients (p=0.32). Taken together, the results of the present study conclude that a combination of 200 mg of vitamin C and 250 mg of vitamin E provides the greatest performance in Japanese quails reared under heat stress and can be considered as a protective management practice in poultry diet, alleviating the negative effects of heat stress.

Efectos de la alta temperatura sobre la producción en gallinas ponedoras suplementadas con vitaminas C y E

“…This study is in agreement with the findings of Sahin and Kucuk (22), who reported that a combination of 200 mg of vitamin C and 250 mg of vitamin E provides the greatest performance in japanese quails reared under heat stress. That combination can be considered as a protective management practice in a poultry diet, ameliorating the detrimental effects of heat stress.…”

Growth performance, intestinal morphology, and meat quality in relation to alpha-lipoic acid associated with vitamin C and E in broiler chickens under tropical conditions

“…These negative influences on digestibility were moderated through the supplementation of the antioxidant vitamins. Sahin and Kucuk (2001) demonstrated that the combination of 200 mg vit. C and 250 mg vit.…”

Tomato pomace may be a good source of vitamin E in broiler diets

“…A previous study showed that 60 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE, VOLUME 58, NUMBER 1 fortification of broiler diets with 150 ppm α-tocopherol per kilogram feed for 3 to 6 weeks maintained 10 ppm of α-tocopherol in postmortem meat, enough to retard lipid oxidation by up to 50% during refrigerated and frozen storage (King et al 1995). Other investigators have shown that vitamin C and vitamin E improved feed conversion, layer performance and the effect of heat by terminating free-radical attacks and promoting greater thyroid activity, ultimately increasing the immune response (Whitehead et al 1998;Bollenger-Lee et al 1999;Sahin and Kucuk 2001;Sahin, Kucuk et al 2002;. Previous research suggests that an agricultural waste product containing ample amounts of α-tocopherol could be added to feed to produce a value-added meat product.…”