Physiological adaptive indicators in fasted neonate broiler chicks in response to calcium gluconate injection.
Four hundred and eighty mixed-sex broiler chicks aged 3 h after hatching were allotted according to a completely random design in a 6 × 2 × 2 factorial schedule into two groups of 12 replications of 20 chicks each. The main experimental factors were fasting for 0, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after chick placement and calcium gluconate (Ca-glu) injection (0 and 0.6 ml). Live body weight (BW) of chicks decreased linearly (Y = 43.36-0.109BW0 h , r(2)  = 0.876) as neonatal fasting extended. Injection of 0.6 ml Ca-glu at 3 h post-hatching did not affect weight loss of chicks. Yolk residuals (YR) utilized linearly (Y = 5.75-0.062YR, r(2)  = 0.956) by 0.062 g/h in neonate fasted chicks up to 48 h, showing no effect of Ca-glu injection. Neonatal fasting periods longer than 12 h increased liver weight (p < 0.05). The mean absolute and proportional (% of BW0 h ) breast and leg weight were reduced linearly as neonatal fasting extended (p < 0.05). Serum glucose concentration increased up to 6 h and then reduced linearly to 150 mg/dl after 48-h fasting. The Ca-glu treatment influenced serum glucose level for a short period up to 6 h of fasting. Serum Ca concentration sharply increased up to threefolds in the birds received Ca-glu injection resulting in acute hypercalcemia, then decreased to the initial level after 24-h feed withdrawal (p < 0.05). The mean serum level for creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, HDL, albumins and total proteins significantly increased during the fasting periods of 6 to 48 h and significantly elevated in the birds receiving 0.6-ml Ca-glu injection compared with the non-treated chicks (p < 0.05). It was concluded that subcutaneous administration of 0.6 ml Ca-glu in the chick's neck did not suitably support the increased metabolic demands for glucose and calcium in feed-deprived neonate chicks.
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, 68137-17133, Iran.
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Khosravinia
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002125:Calcium Gluconate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D013997:Time Factors
D002125:Calcium Gluconate
broiler chicks; calcium gluconate; neonatal fasting; physiological parameters; yolk residuals