The Effect of Organic Hawthorn (Crataegus tanacetifolia) Fruit Vinegar Supplement on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Some Serum Parameters in Broiler Chickens Subjected to Cyclic Heat Stress

Abstract

Background: This study, it was aimed to determine the effects of adding organic hawthorn (Crataegus tanacetifolia) fruit vinegar (HFV) in different doses to the drinking water of broiler chickens reared under cyclic heat stress (CHS) on performance, carcass characteristics and some serum parameters. Methods: In the study, 300 one-day-old broiler chickens (Ross 308), after a 1-week acclimation period, were tested in two different (24 and 35°C) ambient temperatures and three different HFV levels (0, 2 and 4 ml/L) according to the 2x3 factorial experimental design. Chicks were randomly distributed to 6 experimental groups with 5 replications, with 10 animals in each replication. The addition of organic HFV to the drinking water of broiler chickens subjected to CHS didn’t affect growth performance, carcass characteristics and visceral weight (P greater than 0.05). Addition of HFV increased serum FFA level, decreased serum MDA, HDL and TAG levels (p less than 0.05) and did not affect other serum parameters (P greater than 0.05) in CHS-treated groups. Result: As a result, it was concluded that the addition of HFV to the drinking water of broiler chickens exposed to cyclic heat stress did not have any negative effect on growth performance, carcass characteristics and visceral weights, but it could be beneficial in preventing lipid peroxidation.