Effect of Stocking Density, Dietary Vitamin D3 and Probiotic Supplementation on Carcass Traits and Blood Parameters of Broiler Chickens

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Egypt

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of stocking density, dietary supplementation of probiotic and Vitamin D3 on carcass yield and blood biochemistry of broiler chickens. A total number of 360 unsexed broiler chicks (Evian), one-day old, nearly similar in live body weight were used in this study. Chicks were randomly divided into equal 12 treatments in a 2X3X2 factorial arrangement experiment. Birds were allocated in two main experimental groups (each of 180 birds), the first main group kept under normal stocking density (LSD) with 10 birds /m2 and the second main group kept under high stocking density (HSD) with16 birds/m2. Each main group was divided into three groups (each of 60 birds) fed on diets supplemented with probiotic at a levels of 0, 1 and 2 g/kg diet, respectively. Each group divided into two sub-group (each of 30 birds) and supplemented with fed vit.-D3 at a level of 250 and 500 IU/kg diet, respectively. Results obtained showed that raised broiler chickens under LSD had significantly improved absolute and relative carcass, giblets and total edible weight Moreover, it has significantly increased plasma total protein, albumin (A), globulin (G), cholesterol, triglyceride and it has decreased plasma transaminase enzymes of AST and ALT, compared with those rose under HSD. Broiler chicks fed on diet supplemented with probiotic at level of 2 g/ kg diet showed higher plasma total protein, albumin and A/G ratio, cholesterol and triglycerides than those fed on the other levels of probiotic supplementations. While, it has recorded lowest plasma AST and ALT levels, compared with the other experimental groups. Feeding broiler chickens on high level of Vit.-D3 (500 IU/ Kg diet) has significantly increased plasma protein fractions and decreased plasma AST and ALT levels, compared with those fed diet supplemented with low level of Vit.-D3 (250 IU/Kg) that caused significant decreased plasma cholesterol and triglycerides. Finally, it could be recommended to apply LSD (10 birds/ m2), high level of Vit.-D3 (500 IU/ Kg) and probiotic at a level of 2 g/ kg diet to improve carcass yield and blood biochemistry of broiler chickens.

Keywords

Main Subjects