Optimizing growth and antioxidant function in heat-stressed broilers with vitamin C and betaine supplementation.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether betaine (Bet), alone or combined with vitamin C (VC), could improve growth performance, serum metabolism, and antioxidant function in heat-stressed broilers.
Results Summary
Betaine supplementation (1000 mg/kg) significantly improved average daily gain (ADG), serum antioxidant capacity (T-AOC, T-SOD), and reduced shear force and uric acid (UA) levels in heat-stressed broilers, demonstrating efficacy in mitigating oxidative damage and enhancing growth.
Population
Ross 308 broilers (28 days old) exposed to heat stress (32±1℃).
Effective Dosage
1000 mg/kg Betaine in feed.
Duration
14 days (from day 28 to day 42).
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
heat stress (HS) | decrease | average daily feed intake (ADFI) | broilers | - | significantly lowered | #1 |
heat stress (HS) | decrease | degree of redness (a*) in muscles | broilers | - | significantly lowered | #2 |
heat stress (HS) | decrease | serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) level | broilers | - | significantly lowered | #3 |
heat stress (HS) | decrease | average daily gain (ADG) | broilers | - | reduced | #4 |
heat stress (HS) | decrease | serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level | broilers | - | reduced | #5 |
heat stress (HS) | increase | shear force | broilers | - | increasing | #6 |
heat stress (HS) | increase | serum direct bilirubin (D-BIL) | broilers | - | increasing | #7 |
heat stress (HS) | increase | serum uric acid (UA) | broilers | - | increasing | #8 |
heat stress (HS) | increase | serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels | broilers | - | increasing | #9 |
Dietary supplementation of VC and Bet, either alone or in combination | decrease | shear force | HS-exposed broilers | - | significantly decreased | #10 |
Dietary supplementation of VC and Bet, either alone or in combination | decrease | serum UA level | HS-exposed broilers | - | significantly decreased | #11 |
Dietary supplementation of VC and Bet, either alone or in combination | increase | ADG | HS-exposed broilers | - | increasing | #12 |
Dietary supplementation of VC and Bet, either alone or in combination | increase | serum T-AOC | HS-exposed broilers | - | increasing | #13 |
Dietary supplementation of VC and Bet, either alone or in combination | increase | serum T-SOD level | HS-exposed broilers | - | increasing | #14 |
the addition of VC and/or Bet to the diet | increase | growth performance | HS-exposed broilers | - | proves effective in enhancing | #15 |
This study investigates the potential of vitamin C (VC) and/or betaine (Bet) to enhance growth performance, regulate serum metabolism, and bolster antioxidant function aiming to mitigate the impact of heat stress (HS) on broilers. Two hundred Ross 308 broilers at 28 days of age were randomly assigned to five groups. The control group, housed at 24 ± 1℃, was fed a basal diet. High-temperature treatment groups, housed at 32 ± 1℃, received a basal diet with 0 (HS group), 250 mg/kg VC (HSVC group), 1000 mg/kg Bet (HSBe group), and 250 mg/kg VC + 1000 mg/kg Bet (HSVCBe group). On day 42, assessments were made on growth performance, muscle quality, serum biochemistry, and antioxidant function. Results revealed that HS significantly lowered (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI), the degree of redness (a*) in muscles, and serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) level. It also reduced (P < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG), and serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level, while increasing (P < 0.05) shear force, serum direct bilirubin (D-BIL), uric acid (UA), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared with the control group. Dietary supplementation of VC and Bet, either alone or in combination, significantly decreased shear force and serum UA level, while increasing ADG and serum T-AOC, T-SOD level compared with the HS group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of VC and/or Bet to the diet proves effective in enhancing the growth performance of HS-exposed broilers through the positive regulation of serum chemical metabolism and the alleviation of oxidative damage.