Effect of dietary chromium and ascorbic acid on performance and serum antioxidant status and mineral concentration in laying hens under winter condition in Egypt
Abstract: The effect of chromium picolinate (Cr) and vitamin C dietary supplementation on digestion of nutrients, and mineral concentration in laying hens were studied under winter condition (December – February). 150 laying hens, 30 weeks of old were divided into 5 groups (n=30). Hens in the groups 1- 4 exposed to natural low environmental temperature (maximum 18 °C) with relative humidity 65%. The fifth group was kept in controlled temperature room (25 °C) and kept as control. The birds were fed either basal diet (16.4% crude protein and 2750 kcal/ kg diet), or the basal diet supplemented with either 250 mg of vit C / kg of diet, 400 ppb of Cr / kg diet or 250 mg vit C plus 400 ppb Cr /kg diet. The fifth group was feed on the basal diet without any supplementation. Birds fed with the combination of vit C and Cr had the highest body weight 6% as compared to control birds at cold weather under low ambient temperature. Egg number, egg weight, egg mass and laying rate of hens in the cold weather were reduced about 12.9, 0.56, 13.5 and 18.5% respectively compared with control birds under normal temperature. Supplemented vit C and Cr significantly improved feed conversion (P<0.05) during low ambient temperature . Low temperature decreased plasma cholesterol. MDA concentrations in blood plasma by cold weather compared to control birds at normal temperature. The results of the
present study conclude that a combination of 250 mg of vitamin C and 400 mg of Cr provides the highest positive effect on the performance of local laying hens under a low ambient temperature.
Keywords: chromium – ascorbic acid – cold stress – semen - MDA
Publication year 2009
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شار ع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City طابا
serial title 5th International Poultry Conference
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    يحيى عيد جامعة كفر الشيخ
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Antioxidants. Ascorbic acid. Chromium. Cold stress. Egypt. Layer chickens. Minerals. Performance testing. Semen. Winter.
Publication Type Conference/Workshop
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