Improving the performance of heat stressed laying Japanese quail by feeding diet supplemented with potassium chloride and ascorbic acid
Abstract: This study was performed to assess the effect of feeding different levels of potassium chloride (Kcl) or ascorbic acid (AA) to alleviate the deleterious effects of acute heat stress on the performance of Japanese quail layers.
A total of 96, 7-wks-old Japanese quail were randomly distributed into 6 groups with 2 replicates 8 birds each. The, first group served as a negative control while the second group was a positive control, both of them fed a basal diet containing 24% C.P, 2900 Kcal M.E/Kg and 3.2 C.F (control diet). The 3rd and 4th groups were fed the control diet supplemented with 1.5 and 2% Kcl, respectively. The 5th and 6th groups were fed the control diet supplemented with 250 and 500 mg AA/Kg, diet respectively. All groups except the first one were exposed to heat stress (40°C) for two hours every other day from 7 to 13 wks of age.
Body weight (BW) was weekly recorded from 7 to 13 wks of age. Egg number (EN) and egg weight (EW) were daily recorded starting from 9 to 13 wks of age. External and internal egg quality traits were measured. Red blood cells (RBe's) and White blood cells (WBC's) were counted in fresh blood samples. Hemoglobin (HB) and total plasma protein (TP), albumin (AI), calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (IP) and sodium (Na) concentrations were determined. Rectal temperature (RT) and respiration rate (RR) were individually recorded for the treated groups and control one just after exposure to heat stress.
The results indicated that BW at 10th wk, EN, EW, albumen height, TP, AI, Ca, IP and WBC's, decreased significantly (P<0.05) in quail layers exposed to heat stress while RR and RT were increased significantly (P<0.05) compared to control group.
Supplementation of Kcl or AA had beneficial effects under heat stress. Both RR and RT were significantly (P<0.05) reduced, while either Kcl or AA supplementation improved BW, EN, EW, egg quality traits (shell thickness%, yolk weight, height, index and diameter as well as albumen height), TP, AI, Ca, IP, Na, RBC's, WBC's and HB as compared to heat stressed non-supplemented group.
Publication year 2008
Pages 15-33
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
serial title Egyptian Journal of Applied Science
ISSN 1110-1571
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Ascorbic acid. Blood composition. Body temperature. Heat stress. Performance testing. Potassium chloride. Quails. Respiration rate.
Proposed Agrovoc layers;
Publication Type Journal
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