Effects of vitamin C and vitamin E on performance, digestion of nutrients and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails reared under chronic heat stress (34 degrees C).
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.
Sahin
K
K
Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary Faculty, University of Fýrat, 23119 Elazýg, Turkey. ksahin@firat.edu.tr
Kucuk
O
O
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001823:Body Composition; D003370:Coturnix / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004063:Digestion; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015430:Weight Gain
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid