EVALUATION OF CHANGES IN CLOACAL TEMPERATURE, TONIC IMMOBILITY, VIGILANCE AND PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS ADMINISTERED WITH PROBIOTIC AND FISETIN DURING THE EARLY RAINY SEASON
EVALUATION OF CHANGES IN CLOACAL TEMPERATURE, TONIC IMMOBILITY, VIGILANCE AND PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS ADMINISTERED WITH PROBIOTIC AND FISETIN DURING THE EARLY RAINY SEASON
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Date
2018-10
Authors
SUMANU, Victory Osirimade
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Abstract
High ambient temperature and high relative humidity occurring during the early rainy
season cause oxidative stress, adversely affecting broiler chicken production. The aim of
the study was to evaluate the changes in cloacal temperature, tonic immobility and
performance indices of broiler chickens, administered with probiotic and fisetin during the
early rainy season. Sixty Arbo Acre breed of broiler chickens at day-old, allotted into four
groups of 15 birds each, were used. Group I (Control) was given only distilled water;
Group II, fisetin (5 mg/kg); Group III, probiotic (4.125 106 cfu/100 mL); and Group IV,
fisetin and probiotic (5 mg/kg and 4.125 106 cfu/100 mL, respectively), for the first seven
days of life. All administrations were done orally through a gavage. Cloacal temperature of
the broiler chickens, dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity and temperature-humidity
index in the pen were obtained bi-hourly, from 07:00 – 07:00 h, at days 21, 28 and 35 of the
study period. Tonic immobility and vigilance were evaluated at 7:00, 13:00 and 18:00 h at
days 21, 28 and 35 of the study period. Body weight of each broiler chicken was recorded
at days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. Feed and water intake were measured on daily basis
beginning from day 1-42 of the experiment. Absolute feed and water intakes were
calculated. The dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity and temperature-humidity index
(30.57 ± 0.36 °C, 79.22 ± 1.26% and 30.10 ± 0.34, respectively) recorded were
predominantly outside the thermoneutral zone, indicating that the broiler chickens were
subjected to heat stress. At day 21, the cloacal temperature recorded in probiotic (40.32 ±
1.90 °C) group was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than in the control group (41.39 ± 0.03
°C). At day 28, the cloacal temperature in broiler chickens administered with fisetin + probiotic (40.40 ± 0.03 °C) was significantly lower (P < 0.05), when compared with that of
the control group (41.58 ± 0.03 °C). Tonic immobility duration in broiler chickens
administered with fisetin + probiotic (99.90 ± 9.43 s) was lower than that of the controls
(139.70 ± 11.69 s). The vigilance behavioural ranking was highest (1.64 ± 0.06) in the
control group, while the lowest value (1.45 ± 0.06) was obtained in fisetin + probiotic
group. Broiler chickens administered with probiotic alone, and fisetin + probiotic had
higher (P < 0.05) feed intake at days 35 and 42, when compared respectively with those of
the control and fisetin groups. Water intake was higher (P < 0.05) in the probiotic
administered group than in any other group only at day 42. The feed conversion ratio was
lower (P < 0.05) in the probiotic supplemented group (0.42 ± 0.13) than that of the control
group (1.20 ± 0.08). The live weight gain of the broiler chickens was highest (P < 0.05) in
the probiotic group. It was concluded that the administration of probiotic and/or fisetin
ameliorated the adverse effects of heat stress on broiler chickens during the thermally
stressful early rainy season, and the best performance was obtained in broiler chickens
administered with probiotic alone.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE
STUDIES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA IN PARTIAL
FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE
OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY
FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
EVALUATION,, CHANGES,, CLOACAL TEMPERATURE,, TONIC IMMOBILITY,, VIGILANCE,, PERFORMANCE,, BROILER CHICKENS,, ADMINISTERED,, PROBIOTIC,, FISETIN DURING,, EARLY RAINY SEASON,