Authors:
Osita, C.O.
; Ani, A. O.
; Akuru, E. A.; Edeh, H. O.
; Ezemagu, I. E.
;
Ezenwosu, C
and Ukwueze, J. O.
|
Abstract:
The effects of Vitamin C supplementation on performance and haematological indices of broiler
birds were investigated. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) day-old chicks were randomly
allocated into four dietary treatments of thirty birds each. The treatments consisted of four levels
of dietary Vitamins C supplement (0, 150, 250 and 350 mg/kg of basal diets). Each treatment has
three replicates (ten broilers per replicate). There were no significant (p>0.05) differences
among treatments in initial body weight and average daily feed intake while significant (p<0.05)
differences existed among treatments in final body weight, average daily weight gain and feed
conversion ratio. In haematological indices there were no significant (P> 0.05) differences
among treatments in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular volume
while significant (P< 0.05) differences existed among treatments in packed cell volume,
haemaglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, and red blood cell count. In conclusion T3
was recommended because the highest average daily weight gain and lower feed conversion ratio
were recorded. Also, the values of packed cell volume, haemaglobin concentration and mean
corpuscular volume in T3 were significantly higher than that of control. |
