Supplemental Zinc and Vitamin A Can Alleviate Negative Effects of Heat Stress in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of zinc (ZnSO4.H2O) and vitamin A (retinol) supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics, and serum concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, total protein, and malondialdehyde (MDA) as an indicator of lipid peroxidation in broiler chickens (Ross) reared at a high temperature (34 degrees C). One hundred twenty 10-d-old male broilers were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups, 3 replicates of 10 birds each. The birds were fed either a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with either 30 mg Zn/kg diet, 4.5 mg (15,000 IU) retinol/kg diet, or 30 mg Zn + 4.5 mg retinol/kg diet. Supplemental zinc and vitamin A significantly increased live weight gain and improved feed efficiency (p<0.05). However, a combination of zinc and vitamin A, rather than each separately, provided a greater performance. Hot and chilled carcass weights and yields and the weights of internal organs with the exception of abdominal fat were greater for each supplement (p<0.05) compared to the control group. Abdominal fat decreased (p<0.05) upon dietary zinc and vitamin A supplementation. Supplemental treatments resulted in an increased total serum protein but decreased glucose, cholesterol, and MDA concentrations. The results of the study show that, separately or as a combination, zinc and vitamin A supplementation resulted in an improved live weight gain, feed efficiency, and carcass traits, as well as a decrease in serum MDA concentrations. The results of the present study also suggest that zinc and vitamin A have similar effects and that a combination of zinc and vitamin A may offer a potential protective management practice in preventing heat-stress-related depression in performance of broiler chickens.

Effect of dietary amounts of inorganic and organic zinc on productive and physiological traits of White Pekin ducks

“…Dietary amount and source of Zn in ducks diets increase in abdominal fat in other studies (Kucuk et al, 2003) could be the result of differences in species and dietary Zn content. In accordance with the findings in the present study, Sahin et al (2009) found that dietary Zn levels from 57 to 157 ppm fed to broilers from weeks 1 to 6 of age did not affect the percentage of dressed carcass or organ weights.…”

“…In accordance with the findings in the present study, Sahin et al (2009) found that dietary Zn levels from 57 to 157 ppm fed to broilers from weeks 1 to 6 of age did not affect the percentage of dressed carcass or organ weights. However, Kucuk et al (2003) reported that 30 ppm dietary Zn significantly increased hot and chilled carcass weight, carcass yield and organ weights, compared with control groups.…”

Response to withdrawal of vitamin and trace mineral premixes from finisher diet in broiler chickens under the hot and humid tropical condition

“…Sahin et al (2002b) reported that dietary supplementation of chromium, improved feed intake, weight gain and feed efficiency of broilers exposed to high environmental temperatures. Zinc fortification was also shown to be beneficial in enhancing growth performance and carcase traits in heat-stressed broilers (Kucuk et al 2003). Thus, there is a possibility that broilers under hot environmental conditions require further VIT and TRM fortification in their diet.…”

Dietary vitamin A can improve immune function in heat-stressed broilers

“…Niu, Wei, Liu, Qin, Min and Gao reports (Sklan et al, 1994;Lessard et al, 1997;Kucuk et al, 2003). The growth performance of 42-day-old broilers was significantly reduced when the birds were raised under HS conditions.…”