EFFECTS OF BETAINE AND ASCORBIC ACID ON BIOMARKERS OF STRESS IN BROILER CHICKENS DURING THE HOT-DRY SEASON IN ZARIA, NIGERIA

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EFFECTS OF BETAINE AND ASCORBIC ACID ON BIOMARKERS OF STRESS IN BROILER CHICKENS DURING THE HOT-DRY SEASON IN ZARIA, NIGERIA

Abstract:

High ambient temperature and high relative humidity adversely affect poultry. They result in heat stress, and, consequently, oxidative stress, especially during the hot-dry season in the Northern Guinea Savannah zone. The experiment was aimed at evaluating the effects of betaine and ascorbic acid (AA) on biomarkers of stress in broiler chickens during the hot-dry season in Zaria, Nigeria. Eighty White Ross breed of broiler chickens at day-old allotted into four groups of 20 birds each, were used. Group I (control) was given only sterile water per os, while Group II, Group III and Group IV were administered betaine (250 mg/kg), AA (50 mg/kg) and betaine+AA (250 mg/kg + 50 mg/kg), respectively, using gavage for forty-two days. The cloacal temperature (CT) of the birds, and dry-bulb temperature (DBT), relative humidity (RH) as well as temperature-humidity index (THI) in the pen, were measured bi-hourly, from 06:00 – 18:00 h, on days 28, 35 and 42. Blood samples were collected from birds in each group on days 21 and 42, through venopuncture, with and without anticoagulant, sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) was determined. Serum obtained from blood samples were assayed for malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The mean DBT, RH and THI recorded (32.52 ± 0.61 oC, 77.81 ± 0.61 % and 31.98 ± 0.58, respectively) were predominantly outside the thermoneutral zone for broiler chickens. The results of this study showed that the mean CT value in group III broiler chickens (41.60 ± 0.02 oC) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that in group I (41.79 ± 0.03 oC), but mean CT values in group IV birds (41.95 ± 0.03 oC) were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those in control group. Groups II, III and IV birds recorded significant decreases (P < 0.05) in EOF (6.66 ± 1.51%, 7.17 ± 1.31% and 7.00 ± 1.29%, respectively), when compared with that of group I (13.65 ± 2.30%). Betaine vii (1.37 ± 0.038 nmol/L), AA (1.41 ± 0.039 nmol/L) and betaine+AA (1.41 ± 0.040 nmol/L) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased MDA concentration when compared with that in control (1.54 ± 0.043 nmol/L) broiler chickens. A highly significant (P < 0.01) increase in SOD activity in group IV broiler chickens (1.76 ± 0.06 IU/L) was observed, when compared with those in group I (1.44 ± 0.05 IU/L). GPx activity was significantly higher in birds of groups II (44.30 ± 1.00 IU/L; P < 0.01), III (43.10 ± 0.66 IU/L; P < 0.05) and IV (46.60 ± 1.61 IU/L; P < 0.001), when compared with those in group I (39.60 ± 1.09 IU/L). The results showed that betaine and/or AA exerted antioxidant properties. Administration of betaine and/or AA enhanced ability of broiler chickens to thrive under heat stress conditions occurring during the hot-dry season. It is concluded that, the administration of betaine and/or ascorbic acid is beneficial to broiler chickens in ameliorating the adverse effects of heat stress.

EFFECTS OF BETAINE AND ASCORBIC ACID ON BIOMARKERS OF STRESS IN BROILER CHICKENS DURING THE HOT-DRY SEASON IN ZARIA, NIGERIA

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