Cloacal temperature responses of broiler chickens administered with betaine and ascorbic acid during the hot-dry season |
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| Authors: | Ifeanyichukwu Chukwuemeka Egbuniwe Joseph Olusegun Ayo Mohammed Umar Kawu Aliyu Mohammed |
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| Institution: | 1. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria;2. Faculty of Human Medicine, Department of Human Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria |
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| Abstract: | The experiment was performed to evaluate cloacal temperature (CT) responses in broiler chickens, administered with betaine and ascorbic acid (AA) during the hot–dry season. Broilers were divided into four groups: Group I (control) was given sterile water; Group II, betaine at 250 mg/kg; Group III, AA at 50 mg/kg and Group IV, betaine (250 mg/kg) + AA (50 mg/kg). The different solutions were given orally for 42 days. Dry-bulb temperature (DBT), relative humidity (RH) and temperature-humidity index (THI) in the pen, and CT of each broiler chicken were measured bihourly (06:00–18:00 h) on days 28, 35 and 42. DBT, RH and THI values were outside the thermo-neutral zone for broiler chickens. Results showed that AA lowered (p < 0.001) CT, while betaine + AA increased (p < 0.001) CT, compared with controls. In conclusion, betaine + AA or AA alone modulated CT responses of broiler chickens subjected to the thermal stress in the hot–dry season. |
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| Keywords: | heat stress body temperature |
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